FIFA WC 2022 Opening ceremony | All you need to know

With just a few days left for the landmark 2022 FIFA World Cup event, the fever is mounting high over the grand event. The teams have started arriving as excitement is thriving at its peak among fans in Qatar and abroad.

The opening day will mark the celebration of the first World Cup event in the middle east, as here’s everything you need to know about the tournament's opening day.

When does it officially kick-off?

The World Cup will begin on Sunday, November 20 as host Qatar will take on Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium. And the final will take place at Lusail Stadium ending on December 18.

When will the opening ceremony take place?

The opening ceremony will begin at 14:00 GMT at the 60,000 seaters Al Bayt Stadium located 40km north of Doha, on November 20, ahead of Group A Qatar and Ecuador’s game. 

Earlier, the opening ceremony was scheduled to take place before Qatar's first game on November 21, which would create an unusual situation of two games being played before it, resulting in the opening match to prepone to November 20.

Who will be performing at the opening ceremony?

The official tournament anthem and soundtrack will feature in the opening ceremony, and tournament mascot La’eeb will have a huge role to play.

As soon as it gets dark enough on November 20, BTS singer and K-Pop star Jung Kook will be performing at the opening ceremony. 

Moreover, other notable names to be involved in the opening ceremony include: 

• Columbian pop star Shakira
• Black-Eyed Pearl
• Robbie Williams
• J Balvin
• Nigerian music sensation Patrick Nnaemeka
• and Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi, who featured in the 2022 World Cup soundtrack ‘Light The Sky'

Earlier, Dua Lipa and singer Rod Stewart turned down offers to perform at the opening ceremony of the grand event. 

Cover credits: Qatarfootballofficial