In addition to the musical, cultural, and modern visual shows that were utilized for the first time in the history of the competition, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony continued to draw significant attention from the Arab and international media. It was full of Gulf and Arab heritage and held many symbols of hospitality and welcome that are unique to the Arabic culture.
The Arabic and international media noted Qatar’s impressive success in the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, stressing that the Arab dream has finally turned into reality.
In that regard, the American CNN network stressed in its report that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony, which took place on Sunday at Al Bayt Stadium, caught the world’s eye.
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General view during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Opening Ceremony. (REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski)
The American network pointed out that the opening ceremony focused on the rapprochement between all nations and overcoming all differences through humanity and respect.
The American network indicated that the ceremony included a performance entitled “Dreamers,” which is a new song added to the official World Cup songs, holding the signature of the Korean pop star Jungkook and the Qatar singer Fahad Al Kubaisi.
The American network said that the 32 participating teams and the tournament volunteers were celebrated, in addition to presenting the 23rd World Cup mascot, “La’eeb.” For its part, the American News Agency Associated Press stressed that Qatar exerted a tremendous effort to make this tournament one of the most successful, especially regarding building a number of mega World Cup stadiums.
The Qatar 2022 mascot La’eeb performs during the opening ceremony. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)
The Associated Press emphasized that the opening ceremony introduced Qatar and its culture to the world. The ceremony represented a gathering for all mankind and a meeting point that connects all differences based on humanity, respect, and inclusion.
The agency noted the presence of several Presidents, Kings, Prices, and High-level Gulf, Arab, and other countries officials.
In London, most British media highlighted the magnificent FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony that took place on Sunday at Al Bayt Stadium.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) highlighted the speech of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony, in which His Highness said “People of different races, nationalities, faiths and orientations will gather here in Qatar, and around screens on all continents to share the same exciting moments”.
Fireworks explode around a replica of the World Cup trophy during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Opening Ceremony. (Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP)
On its website, the BBC published a selected group of the most prominent footage of the glamorous opening ceremony. The BBC said that the opening ceremony, which took place at Al Bayt Stadium, was “dazzling on the visual level,” noting the special appearance of the Qatari Ghanim Al Muftah and the international actor Morgan Freeman.
For its part, the Sun praised the opening ceremony saying that the tournament kicked off after a dazzling opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium before the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador.
For its part, The Mirror highlighted the speech of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at the opening ceremony, noting His Highness welcoming everyone by saying, “Welcome and good luck to all.” As for the ITV network website, it praised the impressive opening ceremony and the participation of the international actor Morgan Freeman and published some of his words in which he said, “We gather here as one big tribe and Earth is the tent we all live in.”
In Beirut, Annahar newspaper highlighted that the Arab dream is coming true with the start of the World Cup, confirming that Qatar today dazzled the world with an exceptional version of the World Cup, and with a huge and distinctive concert, for the first time in the history of the Arab world and the Middle East.
Jung Kook and Fahad Al Kubaisi perform during the opening ceremony. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
In turn, the newspaper Al Liwa said that after a period of work and waiting for almost 12 years, during which Qatar was targeted by campaigns of skepticism and disinformation, Qatar has made a lot of efforts and hard work to complete the stadiums and equipment.
The Lebanese Al-Diyar newspaper confirmed that Doha succeeded in conveying a creative cultural aesthetic image of the Arab world.
The Tunisian media praised the atmosphere of the opening ceremony of the World Cup, and most media organizations showed photos and videos from the opening ceremony, which most of them unanimously agreed as an opening that honors all Arabs.
Nessma TV mentioned that the message of the ceremony was centered on the rapprochement between all the peoples of mankind, respect and inclusiveness.
Al Fajr newspaper in its most prominent headlines talked about the road to the World Cup, and talked about the Qatari dream that has come true.
Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
Al-Hurriya Newspaper pointed out that the first Arab-hosted World Cup has been fighting Western extremism for years, in attempts to keep Doha from hosting the world’s largest football event.
And Annahar website confirmed that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani delivered a touching speech to the audience and the world at the opening ceremony of the tournament.
For their part, Tunisian media outlets focused on the young Ghanem Muftah, who opened the opening ceremony of the World Cup by reciting Quranic verses and said that it is the first time the Quran is read during World Cup ceremonies, which is a pride of Arabs and Muslims.
Egyptian media, for its part praised the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and the various performances that it included, considering that this ceremony showed the Arabs in an honorable way, and also sent an important message of peace and love among the various peoples of the world.
Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP
For its part, Al-Ahram newspaper described the opening ceremony as exemplary and unique, and carried many artistic and show surprises, as it won the praise of everyone from different countries of the world, noting the participation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in the global occasion, along with a number of leaders and presidents who flocked to Doha hours before the ceremony, which was inaugurated by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, marking the launch of the first World Cup organized by an Arab country.
And under the title “Impressive performances at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022”, Al-Ahram newspaper praised the role of the committee supervising the tournament, stressing that it succeeded in presenting impressive performances at the opening ceremony of the World Cup at Al-Bayt Stadium, which has a unique architectural design that resembles to a Bedouin tent with a large capacity of 60,000 fans.
In the same context, Al Gomhuria newspaper shed light on the wonderful organization of the opening ceremony of the World Cup, as it mentioned in its headline: “Legendary opening of the World Cup .. President El Sisi participates in the opening of the World Cup in Qatar”, noting the depth of relations between Egypt and Qatar.
For its part, Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reviewed the ambiance of the opening ceremony, stressing that Qatar dazzled the world with a more than wonderful ceremony for the World Cup, which was attended by dignitaries in the world at the invitation of HH the Amir.
Morgan Freeman and Ghanim al Muftah during the opening ceremony. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)
And under the title “Verses from the Qur’an, a dialogue between East and West at the opening of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022”, the Egyptian newspaper Al-Akhbar focused on the message of love and peace included in the opening ceremony, which was embodied in the recitation of Quranic verses from the young Ghanim Al Muftah, who was present with world actor Morgan Freeman.
The newspaper said: The Qatari Ghanem Al Muftah began the opening with the Qur’anic verses: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allāh is the most righteous1 of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Aware.”
In the same context, the Egyptian sports channel OnTime Sports dealt with aspects of the opening ceremony at the forefront of its media show, and said: “The show was impressive and very honorable for this version of the World Cup, which is being held for the first time on Arab soil .. Congratulations to the State of Qatar.
A very impressive and interesting opening ceremony. Everyone who watched it enjoyed it. Certainly those in the stadium enjoyed more and more.”
General view of camels during the opening ceremony. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)
The channel also confirmed that the current World Cup in the State of Qatar will be a different and unique tournament, as it will be held for the first time in an Arab and Middle Eastern country, praising the great capabilities of the State of Qatar, and the superiority of its candidacy for the tournament in 2010 against major countries.
In the Jordanian capital, Amman, the Jordanians lived, amidst a wonderful enthusiastic and festive atmosphere, the festive carnival for the opening of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which is being held for the first time on Arab soil.
Jordanian media reported that, “In a precedent that is the first of its kind in the history of the World Cup championships, the organizing committee of the world championship started the opening ceremony with verses from the Holy Quran, which reflected the culture of the Islamic and Arab society calling for peace and acquaintance between peoples.”
For its part, the Greater Amman Municipality lit up the Abdoun Bridge in Annabi color, on the occasion of the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and also published the campaign slogan on electronic screens in the streets and squares as part of “Al-Nashama with Qatar” campaign.
The Jordanian media praised the great achievement of the State of Qatar, and the enormous capabilities that were put in place at the opening ceremony, which reflected the Arab and Islamic heritage in a positive and civilized way to the world.
General view outside the stadium with fireworks during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
The Jordanian Al-R’ai newspaper published, in its editorial on the front page, pictures of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, when he received his brother, King Abdullah II, the King of Jordan, and his Crown Prince, Prince Al-Hassan bin Abdullah, under the title “The King: We are proud of this Arab Achievement.”
The newspaper added: “After a long wait and an extensive campaign of preparations, the World Cup finally kicked off yesterday, so that Qatar, the Middle East and the Arabs in general will enter history from its widest gates, compared to what Doha has shown so far of readiness at the highest levels.”
In Sudan, the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 received wide and comprehensive coverage in Sudanese newspapers and TV channels, where many journalists expressed their happiness at the impressive success achieved by Qatar in presenting visual aesthetic shows distinguished by civilizational depth and cultural connotations.
Al-Sudani newspaper devoted a wide space on its digital platforms to follow all the details of the opening ceremony, from start to finish, through dialogues and polls that conveyed the fan’s fascination with the opening ceremony.
For its part, the Sudanese newspaper “Akhbar Al-Youm” dealt with the details of the opening event in a comprehensive sports file, and said in its speech: Qatar has succeeded in defeating all the challenges it faced since it announced its readiness to organize the World Cup 2022 until the wonderful opening day.
In Algeria, Echorouk daily newspaper lauded the success of “historic” opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, saying that Qatar has organized a dazzling ceremony.
The newspaper highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al-Thani’s assertion that the Qatar has made tremendous efforts to organize one of the most successful tournaments in the World Cup history, quoting His Highness saying “People of different races, nationalities, faiths and orientations will gather here in Qatar, and around screens on all continents to share the same exciting moments.”
In the same context Algerian daily newspaper ‘Annahar’ said that Qatar gave the World Cup a unique Arab flavor. accentuating HH the Amir’s welcome to all participants and spectators of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Annahar said that the ceremony which was held at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City, caught the world’s attention.
The newspaper further cited the tweet of HE President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune saying that Qatar has the right to be proud of its unwavering success in organizing the 2022 edition of the World Cup.
The widespread Moroccan electronic newspaper ‘Hespress’ pointed out that the opening ceremony of the tournament featured a variety of artistic and folkloric performances, adding that the opening ceremony was also dazzling and it utilized modern technology.
‘Hespress” aldo pointed to HH the Amir’s speech where he said: “We have worked hard, along with many people, to make it one of the most successful tournaments. We have exerted all efforts and invested for the good of all humanity. Finally, we have reached the opening day, the day that you have been eagerly waiting for.”
Relatedly, Moroccan newspaper ‘Almountakhab’ said that the opening ceremony presented a unique blend between the oriental traditions and the Western modernity, manifested in the visual dazzle which was realized by utilizing the latest international technologies in lighting, sound and visual effects.
Additionally, the ceremony served as a modern-day global spectacle that invited everyone to come together and bridge the gaps between all races, cultures, colors, and nationalities while also sending a powerful message from the great Arab world to the rest of the world.
