The 2022 FIFA World Cup is lurking around the corner, and the footballing community can't get a hold of themselves as they are caught up with the anxiety that comes with this tournament. Destination is Qatar for sports and football fans alike, the oil rich Middle Eastern country will be opening their gates to millions of people from different races, ethnic backgrounds, and religions, this will be the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that the region will be playing host to football's prestigious tournament. Study this article to be abreast of all the happenings such as the opening ceremony, time/dates of events, and the stars that will be performing at this year's World Cup.
Make sure to check out Emmanuel Adebayor's exclusive expert predictions for the upcoming World Cup!
Opening Ceremony at the Qatar World Cup 2022: Date and Time
The Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 is slated to begin on the 20th day of November 2022. This year's event will kick-off with an opening ceremony which will start at exactly 14:00 GMT, which will be followed by the first match kick-off between host nation Qatar versus Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium.
What will be Interesting at the Opening ceremony?
Spectators will also get to witness the rich culture of the Qataris, as they will be entertained with the official FIFA 2022 World Cup anthem, song, by the locals through dancing, and an unveiling of this year's mascot La’eeb. FIFA’s itinerary has it that the ceremony of the 2022 World Cup runs for 60 minutes straight before giving way to the first match fixture of the tournament.
Which Artists are Performing in the World Cup 2022 Opening Ceremony?
Just as previous events, a handful of A list artists will be drilling spectators with an amazing lined up show. Top of the list of performers to open the ceremony are American rapper Lil Baby who is credited with producing the official anthem, and one of the theme songs of the 2022 FIFA World Cup titled “The World Is Yours To Take” featuring Indian sensational stars Nora Fatehi, Rahma, and Manal. The other musicians who are billed to perform are Nigeria's afrobeat star Kizz Daniel, Shakira, a seasonal World Cup performer, and Korea's sensational pop band BTS.
Bet on FIFA World Cup 2022 with CoinplayWhen will be the First Match at the FIFA World Cup 2022?
The first fixture of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick-off on the 20th day of November 2022 by 04:00 pm GMT. In the history of this tournament, the host of the FIFA World Cup are usually the first to start of the tournament, as a result of this host nation Qatar will be locking horns with the Ecuadorian male senior football team.
Teams at the Qatar World Cup 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup holding in Qatar this year will see 32 teams vying for the number one spot. The 32 teams are further partitioned into eight groups of four teams each. Study the tabular representation below for more:
| GROUPS | COUNTRIES |
| A | Qatar, Netherlands, Ecuador, Senegal |
| B | England, Wales, Iran, United States |
| C | Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia |
| D | Denmark, France, Tunisia, Australia |
| E | Germany, Spain, Japan, Costa Rica |
| F | Croatia, Belgium, Morocco, Canada |
| G | Switzerland, Cameroon, Serbia, Brazil |
| H | South Korea, Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana |
Dates of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Closing Ceremony
The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar will be played through the 20th day of November to the 18th day of December 2022. Fans will see the final battle at the Lusail Stadium which is located in Doha. The stadium will also serve as the venue for the closing ceremony of the World Cup.
Qatar will organize a sensational closing ceremony, which coincidentally falls on the country's national day festival. Fans from all over the world will witness international musicians such as American singer Jennifer Lopez, Indian singer Nora Fatehi, and World Cup Colombian seasonal singer Shakira performing the various World Cup theme songs to mark the end of the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup.