Qatar 2022: FIFA World Cup Kick Off Sunday With Alcohol Ban At Stadiums. The million-plus football fans from across the world are all set to soak up the magical FIFA World Cup 2022 experience in Qatar from November 20 to December 18. The home team will take on Ecuador in the inaugural match at Al Bayt Stadium, which has been built for the multi-nation event and is one of the eight such state-of-the-art stadiums in the country equipped with 30 lakhs population.
Some fan activities have been witnessed in recent weeks with the arrival of foreigners like wearing teams’ dresses, singing in public places, and waving national flags. The activities may reach an all-time high as the World Cup proceeds to the peak stages.
Alcohol Ban At Stadiums
Meanwhile, being an Islamic country, Qatar has lately announced a ban on alcohol at stadium sites and the sudden U-turn has raised concerns for foreign fans. The last-minute decision may affect FIFA’s deal with beer maker AB InBev, which is one of the major sponsors for the event.
It is predicted over one million fans will be visiting Qatar for the 29-day tournament, but strict cultural rules have led to international scrutiny.
However, beer will be made available at the private fan zones in Doha along with about 35 dedicated bars, restaurants, and hotels. It will simultaneously remain available in the VIP suites of the stadiums.
The streets of Doha are decorated with fine artworks including marquees of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, and Cristiano Ronaldo. It is a pride for the entire middle-eastern region to host the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the desert. The incredible vision of Qatar and about twelve years of hard work with meticulous planning turned the dream into reality.
Also Read: Who Will Win FIFA World Cup 2022?
FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony Performers
BTS’ K-pop star Kim Jung Kook is learned to be performing in the opening ceremony on Sunday along with Colombian singer J Balvin, American musical group Black Eyed Peas, American rapper Lil Baby and Nigerian singer Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie.
Indian dancer and actress Nora Fatehi will be featured on ‘Light The World’, one of the official soundtracks of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The opening ceremony will be televised or streamed live on Sports 18, Voot, and JioCinema in India. Fans in the United States can watch it on FOX, Telemundo, and futoTV app. CTV, TSN, and fuboTV app will be doing the same for Canadian fans while the United Kingdom FIFA World Cup 2022 viewers can grab a live glimpse of the event on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sport Website. Australians can switch on SBS while New Zealand can enjoy the ceremony on Sky Sports.
