Doha - The World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Sunday in a high-stakes event for the 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 led by Qatar's emir in a tent-shaped stadium at 4.40pm (SA time), before the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. The UN Secretary-General will also be there.
The tournament marks a culmination of Qatar's soft power push on the global stage and a show of strength after emerging from a 3½ 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.
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 - which has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination - and Fifa hope the spotlight will turn to the action on the pitch after mounting criticism over foreign workers' rights, LGBT rights and social restrictions. Organisers have also denied allegations of bribery for hosting rights.
In lengthy remarks at a news conference on Saturday, Fifa president Gianni Infantino rounded on European critics of the host nation, saying engagement was the only way to improve human rights, while Doha has also pointed to recent labour reforms.
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 fans are already in Doha but the main rush is expected later this week, with daily flights shuttling in fans from neighbouring cities. On arrival, Argentina fan Julio Cesar 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 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, priced out of the stadiums many toiled to build along with other infrastructure for the event.
"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.
Workers were putting final touches on outdoor gardens and sidewalks on Saturday and carting construction material near the National Museum.
But at Lagoona Mall, where World Cup songs played on loop, life continued as normal with people queuing at the bank, sipping coffee in cafes and buying groceries.
"I came now because I don't know how bad the traffic will be later this week," said Esraa, an Egyptian woman stocking up at food retailer Carrefour.
Reuters