Qatar opens World Cup with lavish half-hour ceremony
Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman extended one yellow-gloved hand to a FIFA World Cup ambassador suffering from a rare spinal disorder in an image meant to represent inclusion in a country facing international criticism over its human rights record.
It wasn’t the biggest moment of Sunday’s seven-act World Cup opening ceremony ahead of the match between host country Qatar and Ecuador. Qatar became the first World Cup hosts in history to lose their opening match, going down 2-0 to Ecuador on Sunday.
Qatar, home to 3 million people, most of them migrant workers, has spent more than $200 billion on preparation for the World Cup. Seven new stadiums were built, including the 60,000-seat Al Bayt Stadium north of Doha.
AP PHOTOS
Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe
