DOHA: One of the most awaited sporting event, FIFA World Cup 2022 is set to kick off tonight at the Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar.
The host country will take on Ecuador in the opening match. Despite the controversies related to cultural and other restrictions, the world is ready for the football spectacle. It may be mentioned here that the FIFA world cup is considered as the biggest sporting event, even bigger that the Olympics.
Also read: Ticket prices in Qatar most expensive ever for World Cup games: Report
The FIFA world Cup fever has ravaged the world with more than five billion people around the world expected to tune in to watch the spectacle, while almost a million are expected to attend in person.
Brazil and Argentina are amongst the favorites with their respective national players representing top European football clubs. What makes this world cup even more intoxicating is the fact that this might be the last world cup for the 2 greatest of all times players, Â Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
Qatar’s Al Bayt Stadium has a capacity of 60,000 seats, is located in the city of Al Khor, about 35km north of Doha and will host the opening match of the tournament. The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats and is located in Umm Al Afaei, 20km west of central Doha, on the edge of the desert. The Al Janoub Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats and is located in Al Wakrah, one of Qatar.
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022: start date, schedule, teams, venues and final
Besides these, the Al Thumama Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats and is located in Al Thumama Stadium, 12km south of central Doha. The Education City Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats and is located in Al Rayyan, a learning and knowledge centre, 7km north-west of central Doha. The Khalifa International Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats and is located in Aspire, 5km west of central Doha, and Stadium 974 has a capacity of 40,000 seats and is located in Ras Abu Aboud, 10km east of central Doha.
Meanwhile, taking to Twitter, Chairman PTI Imran Khan expresses best wishes for Qatar for successfully holding the FIFA world Cup.
Wishing Qatar the best for successfully holding the football World Cup, which begins today. It is for the first time that a Muslim country is hosting this biggest sporting event in the world. Good luck to all the participating teams.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 20, 2022
