The World Cup starts this Sunday, November 20, with the match between the host Qatar and Ecuador. The duel is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Chile. Two hours before, it will be the opening party at the Al Bayt stadium. The controversy has not been lacking.
There has been much criticism of the choice of Qatar to host the most important tournament of all. The Guardian assured that there were more than 6,500 workers killed during the construction of the stadiums and there are complaints of human rights violations. It was speculated that the singer Dua Lipa would be at the opening ceremony, but the British woman ruled it out with a forceful message.
“There is currently speculation that he will perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar. I am not going to act nor have I ever participated in any negotiation to act. I will be rooting for England from afar and hope to visit Qatar when it has delivered on all the human rights promises it made when it won the right to host the World Cup. A hug, Dua x », she expressed on his social networks.
Rod Stewart was offered a handsome sum for showing up. Like Dua Lipa, he refused. “In fact, they offered me a lot of money, over $1 million, to play there 15 months ago. I turned it down,” he said.
Shakira, who had been present at the opening parties of the last three World Cups, will not attend either.
Alicia Keys, confirmed until a couple of days ago, resigned at the last minute. “She has not told us why… Until yesterday she was coming, I thought she had already landed,” said one of the organizers of the event, Barbarana Pons, this Friday.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the choice of Qatar as the venue. “This is an opportunity for Qatar and the Persian Gulf to present themselves to the world in a different way and get rid of the prejudices that unfortunately still exist today,” he declared last week.
What will the opening ceremony be like?
There will be music and dance shows to show the world the history of Qatar. The official song of the tournament “Hayya Hayya” will be presented, performed by the local figure Aisha, along with Davido and Trinidad Cardona.
Among the confirmed artists is Jungkook, singer of the Korean K-pop band BTS. Nicki Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares, meanwhile, will present ‘Tukoh Taka’, another official FIFA anthem
The Black Eyed Peas, Robbie Williams, Davi Guetta, Steve Aoki and Craig David all have events scheduled in Qatar in the near future, prompting rumors that they could appear at the opening. So far, none have confirmed.
The creative director of the event, Marco Bailich, told how the ceremony will be. There will be choreography, lights and fireworks. But he clarified that he was not looking to do something “of the Super Bowl halftime show” style.
“I can’t spoil the surprise, but there will definitely be attention and responses to all the issues being discussed right now. It is not about pleasing the West, but about being the platform where Asia and the Western world can comfortably meet. I think they will find answers to all the criticisms and problems that have been raised”, he said.
Information and photo credits: emol.com
