TOPSHOT - Fireworks explode around a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images)
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is upon us.
The opening ceremony kicked off with a promotional video narrated by Hollywood superstar Morgan Freeman.
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Morgan Freeman performs during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The American actor and Qatari Youtuber Ghanim Al Muftah then featured in a dialogue on stage that was followed by the Chant of Nation showcasing Ardha dancers in their white dresses while displaying amazing swordplay.
US actor Morgan Freeman, left, sits on the stage next to FIFA World Cup Ambassador Ghanim Al Muftah, at the opening ceremony prior of the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Performers perform during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Dancers perform on stage during the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - A dancer performs during the opening ceremony of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha, on November 20, 2022. (Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP) (Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images)
Professional dancers and volunteers were up before the white mascot La'eeb started floating in the stadium.
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Performers perform during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Performers perform during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Performers take part in the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Qatar World Cup mascot La'eeb is seen during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
BTS singer Jungkook then took the stage singing the World Cup song, Dreamers. He was joined by Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubais.
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Jung Kook of BTS performs during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Jung Kook of BTS performs with Fahad Al Kubaisi during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
South Korean singer Jung Kook performs during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
The performance culminated with lots of flag waving, each team's giant jerseys on display, and a World Cup inflatable emblem at the centre of the field.
Dancers wave flags of the World Cup teams as they perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images)
The ceremony ended literally with a bang as the stadium lit up with an amazing display of fireworks.
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group A - Qatar v Ecuador - Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar - November 20, 2022. General view inside the stadium and fireworks during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, were in attendance ahead of the first match between the hosts Qatar and Ecuador in the tent-shaped Al Bayt Stadium.
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (C) as he attends a reception hosted by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (R) for the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on November 20, 2022. (Photo by Murat Kula/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Qatar's former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (2ndL) and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani waves a signed Qatari jersey next to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (R) and Abdullah II King of Jordan (L) during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as they attend a reception hosted by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on November 20, 2022. (Photo by Murat Kula/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The FIFA World Cup takes place from 20 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar with 32 national teams participating. This is the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East.
AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Players and match officials line up prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The injury bug bit several key players for defending world champions France. Brazil is looking to add a sixth trophy to its collection while Argentina is eyeing a crowning glory on the international stage for superstar Lionel Messi.
Scandal-hit Kanye West allegedly told his wife Bianca Censori he wanted to have sex with her mother, according to a bombshell lawsuit filed against him by his ex-assistant – who is accusing him of drugging and raping her at a Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs recording session.
United Nations peacekeepers supposed to keep Hezbollah from Israel’s border have instead been outmanoeuvred and intimidated into allowing the militant group to build up extensive military might, their critics claim.
One of the Saturday Night Live moments that got a roaring reaction this week was Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang kissing. The moment occurs in a sketch where Grande plays a mother meeting her son’s (Michael Longfellow) new boyfriend (Yang). The family plays charades in the sketch, and Michael notes that his mom “is a …
James Howells, etched in the history books for accidentally discarding Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), which is worth more than half a billion dollars today, took a major step in retrieving them. What Happened: In a last-ditch effort, the Wales-based software engineer filed a lawsuit against Newport City Council for roughly 495.31 million British pounds, or about $647 million, in damages for repeatedly denying his request to excavate the landfill site housing the discarded hard drive, which contains arou
Kylian Mbappe is being investigated for rape by Swedish police, according to a newspaper report in Sweden following a visit by the Real Madrid star to Stockholm, which Mbappe denounced as "fake news"."According to information obtained by Expressen, police are investigating the star who is reasonably suspected of rape and sexual assault," the newspaper wrote.
