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2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony
The 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony took place on Sunday, 20 November 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, prior to the opening match of the tournament between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.[1] It included appearances by Morgan Freeman and Ghanim Al-Muftah, and a performance by South Korean singer Jungkook of BTS.[2] CeremonyItalian creative director Marco Balich, who previously worked on several Olympic opening and closing ceremonies, collaborated with co-artistic director Ahmed Al Baker during production.[3] The ceremony included many symbolic indications that express welcome, generosity and hospitality in Arab culture, as well as contemporary musical, cultural and visual performances that were used for the first time in the tournament, under a “Tent” decoration that represents the Earth, in a message to invite the world to meet and unite. The ceremony, which lasted for about 30 minutes, was dominated by Arab states of the Persian Gulf and Arab heritage. "The opening ceremony aimed to 'showcase the best of Qatari culture,' using the global stage to highlight Qatar's hospitality and unity while challenging stereotypes about the Arab world"[4] A conversation between Morgan Freeman and Ghanim Al-Muftah, a motivational speaker from Qatar, was a key component of the ceremony. Their interaction, which focused on the idea of "coming together despite differences," was widely praised for its symbolic representation of inclusion and diversity. A verse from Surat Al-Hujurat was read by Al-Muftah. This incident reinforced Qatar's dedication to respect and intercultural harmony.[5] PanelsThe ceremony included seven panels that merged the Qatari and international cultures, showing the country's culture and values, the importance of respecting the other, and the need to change the misconception about the Arab world. The first panel, "The Calling", depicted the sound of "El-Hoon", which is associated with receiving guests. During the "To Get to Know" panel, Qatari personality Ghanim Al-Muftah engaged in a conversation with American artist Morgan Freeman, during which Al-Muftah recited verse 13 of Surat Al-Hujurat:
calling for acceptance of difference and diversity among human beings, within a framework of peace and love.[6][7] The "Rhythm of Nations" panel combined Qatari music with the most famous cheers of encouragement for the 32 participating teams. This was followed by the "Football Nostalgia" panel, which collects former official mascots in honour of the previous host countries of the World Cup, followed by the "Dreamers" panel, which included performances by member of the Korean band BTS, Jungkook, who was later joined by Qatari artist Fahad Al Kubaisi. An archival historical film was shown for the first time during the "Roots of the Dream" panel, showing the former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, playing football with a group of his friends. The ceremony concluded with the panel "Here and Now", which consisted of a speech by the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and ended with the appearance of the official logo of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at a height of 15 meters coupled with a fireworks display.[8] Surat Al-Hujurat Recitation and Intercultural MessageA key moment of the ceremony was the recitation of a verse from Surat Al-Hujurat by Ghanim Al-Muftah, a young Qatari motivational speaker, alongside American actor Morgan Freeman. The verse states, ‘O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another’ (Al-Hujurat, 49:13). This recitation symbolized unity, respect for diversity, and the promotion of peace, aligning with Qatar’s cultural values. FIFA described Al-Muftah’s role as central to the ceremony’s theme of ‘promoting peace and mutual respect[9][10] Dignitaries in attendanceA number of foreign politicians and dignitaries attended the opening ceremony, including 17 heads of state, government and international organizations.[11][12]
ControversiesRefusal of broadcastIn light of the allegations of human rights abuses and corruption scandal surrounding the World Cup, the British public service broadcaster BBC refused to broadcast the opening ceremony on television, although it was made available through its online and digital TV services.[16][17] References
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