2022 FIFA World Cup: What to know about the Opening Ceremony

FILE – People gather around the official countdown clock showing remaining time until the kick-off of the World Cup 2022, in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. FIFA has received 3 million ticket requests for the World Cup final in Qatar and high demand to attend some of its biggest group-stage games. The data revealed to The Associated Press by FIFA shows there have been 2.5 million ticket requests to see Argentina play Mexico on Nov. 26 at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium and 1.4 million fans hope to see England face the United States the previous day at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium. There have been more than two million ticket requests overall from the U.S., England and Qatar. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)

by: Juan Cisneros

Posted: Nov 18, 2022 / 12:15 PM CST

Updated: Nov 18, 2022 / 12:15 PM CST

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DOHA, Qatar — On Sunday, the world will tune in to watch Qatar and Ecuador kick off the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but before the first kick, a ceremony will welcome the world to the biggest stage in sports.

Starting at about 8 a.m. Central Time in anticipation of the first game of the tournament at Al Bayt Stadium, a crowd of 60,000 people will watch performances from artists from around the world including Jungkook, a member of the K-Pop band BTS, and Grammy Award winning American rapper Lil Baby.

Marco Balich, a longtime Olympic opening and closing ceremony creative director, said he is in charge of the 30-minute Olympic-style show. A first for the World Cup.

“FIFA and the supreme committee — especially FIFA — realized how much effort was going into creating the ceremony and creating for the first time something that’s not just someone singing before the opening game,” Balich said.

The ceremony and rest of the tournament will be broadcast on FOX.

The message and content of this show were curated personally by the country’s leadership,” said Balich, who is working with co-artistic director Akhmed Al Baker. “They want to talk about multiculturalism, accepting diversity and being a platform for peace.”

Following the ceremony, host nation Qatar will play their opening group stage match against Ecuador. It will be the only match played on Sunday.

On Monday, the United States will play their first group stage match against Wales at 1 p.m. Central Time in one of three matches played on the day.

USA Schedule