The Qatar World Cup was officially opened by Hollywood actor, Morgan Freeman, who narrated the opening ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha.
The ceremony was a mix of culture and entertainment featuring men dancing with swords, camels and a parade of World Cup mascots.
BTS superstar Jung Kook and Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi performed the official World Cup soundtrack, 'Dreamers.
' However, controversy still plagues the event owing to the country's human rights record.
Three news sources shared a similar story on the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup.
They reported that Oscar-winning actor, Morgan Freeman, narrated the opening segment before appearing in person before a crowd of 60,000 people at Al Bayt Stadium in Doha.
The ceremony included cultural displays of men dancing with swords and camels, and a parade of World Cup mascots.
According to The Independent, Freeman told the crowd that "We gather here as one big tribe and Earth is the tent we all live in".
The AP News and The Hill reported that Freeman extended his hand to FIFA World Cup ambassador, Ghanim al Muftah, who suffers from a rare spinal disorder, as a symbol of inclusion.
The sources agreed that the controversy surrounding the World Cup and Qatar's human rights record linger, though they differed on the extent to which it was overshadowed by the ceremony.
The Hill focused on the largest cheers being reserved for Mideast and African leaders who were watching from their luxury suites, and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani drawing thunderous applause.
Meanwhile, The Independent highlighted the difficulties leading up to the event, describing the opening ceremony as an attempt to provide a dose of Hollywood gravitas.