FIFA officials urged teams to "let football take center stage" in a letter sent out weeks before the highly scrutinised World Cup in Qatar.
However, fans from around the world have a different idea of what they want to see on the "center stage" amid concerns surrounding the host nation's human rights record and its stance on LGBTQ issues.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a one-hour speech on the eve of the opening match, defending the host nation, which drew criticism from those who condemned Qatar's treatment of migrant workers.
In response to FIFA's letter, the human rights group, Amnesty International, wrote an open letter to all football teams, highlighting the violations of human rights in Qatar.
However, FIFA officials called the letter a "diversionary tactic" and sportsmen should "stick to their own field," instead of becoming activists.
Meanwhile, fans attending the stadium were seen waving rainbow flags, a symbol of LGBTQ+ rights, despite warnings from authorities that they could face up to three years in jail.
This follows the appointment of LGBTQ+ fans' groups across Europe who urged people to show their solidarity during the World Cup, despite Qatar's strict anti-gay laws.
These events illustrate how the World Cup has become a platform for fans, officials and advocates to voice their views on a range of important social and political issues, despite FIFA's attempts to discourage this.
While Infantino tried to shift the focus to "just sports," the tournament has global significance that participants and stakeholders cannot ignore.