High stakes for Qatar as FIFA World Cup begins

DOHA:

The World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Sunday in a high-stakes event for the tiny 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 to be held in a tent-shaped stadium at 1440 GMT, before the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. The U.N. secretary general is also in Doha.

The tournament marks a culmination of Qatar's soft power push on the global stage and a show of strength after emerging from a 3-1/2 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 for the World Cup.

Onstage, South Korean singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS will perform a new official tournament song called Dreamers alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.

Qatar and FIFA hope the spotlight will turn to action on the pitch after facing mounting criticism over foreign workers' rights, LGBT rights and social restrictions. Organisers have denied allegations of bribery for hosting rights.

Denmark's and Germany's team captains will wear One Love armbands, their teams said, as they prepare to compete in a conservative Muslim state where same-sex relations are illegal.

Alcohol has been banned at stadiums. Organisers say all are welcome while warning against pubic displays of affection.

Throngs of enthused fans are in Doha but the main rush is expected later this week. On arrival, Argentina fan Julio Cesar from Buenos Aires said he expected a great atmosphere. "Even though there is no beer we'll drink before the match."

As some visitors savoured their first sips of beer at the launch of the FIFA Fan Festival on Saturday in central Doha, hundreds of workers, all men, gathered in a sports arena in an industrial zone on the city's edges where no alcohol was being served. They will be able to watch matches there.

"Of course I didn't buy a ticket. They're expensive and I should use that money for other things - like sending it back home to my family," Ghanaian national Kasim, a security guard who has worked in Qatar for four years, told Reuters.

Neville, a 24-year-old Kenyan, and compatriot Willy, also 24 and a Manchester City fan, were hired as security guards for the event. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Neville.

Wealthy gas producer Qatar is the smallest nation to host soccer's biggest global event, organised at a cost of $220 billion. Crowd control will be key with some 1.2 million visitors expected - more than a third of Qatar's population.

Many of the labourers who toiled to prepare tournament infrastructure will watch from the sidelines, priced out of the stadiums. Doha has been slammed for its treatment of migrant workers but points to labour reforms against exploitation.

Labourers were putting final touches on outdoor gardens and sidewalks on Saturday and carting construction material near the National Museum as visitors milled about.

With a limited number of hotels in Qatar, fans will also fly in on daily shuttle flights from cities like Dubai, as Qatar shares the World Cup economic boon with neighbours.

In Doha, England fan Neil Gahan played soccer with his son next to portacabins housing fans. The cabins were "not brilliant", he said, but there were sports facilities nearby and massive screens. "Yeah, I think it's going to be all right".