The World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Sunday in a high-stakes event for the nation which has faced a barrage of criticism and staked its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament, the first held in the Middle East and most expensive in history.
In a show of Arab solidarity, Saudi Arabia's crown prince and the presidents of Egypt and Algeria will be among political leaders at the opening ceremony led by Qatar's emir in a tent-shaped stadium at 5:40 p.m., before the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. The U.N. Secretary-General will also be there.
The tournament marks a culmination of Qatar's soft power push on the global stage and a show of strength after emerging from a 3½ year boycott by Saudi Arabia and three Arab allies, including Egypt, that ended in 2021. The event will also see the first direct flights from Israel to Qatar.