Doha, 21 November 2022 (TDI): Doha commenced the FIFA World Cup with the theme of ‘bridging distances’ and bridging the distances between leaders of the world, politicians, diplomats, and heads of state who arrived in Qatar.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar on Sunday, there were a disproportionately large number of Arab leaders present.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, a strong supporter of Qatar, and Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, were prominent among all.
Among other prominent guests at the inauguration of FIFA 2022 was the President of Algeria, Egypt, and Palestine, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, hosted a reception ceremony for delegation heads and leaders of countries who attended the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium.
Saudi Arabia at FIFA World Cup
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in the host country late on Saturday. Along with other world leaders, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman attended the FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony and game on Sunday in Qatar.
Following years of tense relations, Saudi Arabia and Doha reestablished diplomatic relations in January 2021.
The re-establishment of relations between the two Arab states led to Prince Mohammed’s arrival in Qatar. He showed his support for the FIFA world cup in Qatar.
In order to assist Qatar in hosting the World Cup, the Crown Prince instructed all Saudi ministries, authorities, and government organizations to make whatever additional assistance or resources were required.
Also Read: The drive and the hype: Opening Ceremony of FIFA
Turkiye at FIFA World Cup
During the World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had meetings with several officials, including King Abdullah of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Despite years of tension between the two leaders of the two nations, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, shook hands during a meeting on the sideline of the FIFA World Cup Ceremony.
Algeria at FIFA World Cup
When the President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and his delegation arrived in Doha on Saturday evening to attend the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, Deputy Amir, greeted them.
The minister of state, Sheikh Fahad bin Faisal Al-Thani, the ambassadors of Qatar to Algeria and Algeria to Qatar, Abdulaziz Ali Al Naama and Mustafa Boutoura, greeted the president and the accompanying group upon their arrival.
UAE at FIFA
Vice-President and Prime Minister of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, arrived in Doha, among other delegations, to attend the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, was with the Prime Miniter. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s deputy emir, welcomed Sheikh Mohammed and the Crown Prince.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and top officials of UAE, in the presence of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed, and Sheikh Hamdan, attended the inauguration ceremony.
Jordan at FIFA World Cup
When King Abdullah II bin Hussein of Jordan arrived in Doha to join the World Cup inauguration ceremony, Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani received him. In addition to several ministers, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II was with King Abdullah II.
Also Read: Pakistan participates actively in FIFA World Cup Preparations
UN at FIFA World Cup
Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) Antonio Guterres was also at the Sunday FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium.
The Director of the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim bin Youssef Fakhro, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen, and the Director of the UNESCO all greeted the UNSG and his accompanying delegation upon their arrival at Hamad International Airport.
Palestine at FIFA World Cup
Munir Abdullah Ghannam, Palestinian ambassador to Qatar, and Sheikh Fahad Bin Faisal Bin Thani, a businessman and Minister from Qatar, received President of Palestine Abbas and his entourage at the airport.
Palestinian President also attended the FIFA-2022 Qatar inauguration ceremony and the reception arranged by the Emir of Qatar at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.
Other Leader at FIFA World Cup
Other representatives of states who attended the ceremony include Caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati, Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Oman Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said.
President of Senegal Macky Sall, President of Liberia George Weah, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Vice President of Ecuador Alfredo Borrero, and President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach were also spotted at the opening ceremony of the FIFA-2022.
Moreover, Aide to the President of Russia Igor Levitin, Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Delcy Eloina Rodriguez, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar also attended the opening ceremony of FIFA.
Letter of Support for FIFA world cup 2022
Those leaders who couldn’t attend the ceremony upon the invitation of the Emir of Qatar sent written supportive words; Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, called Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Friday. He phoned the emir’s office to congratulate the host nation and wish the Qatari national team luck in their next matches.
