Thousands of fans from around the world flocked to the Al Bayt Stadium in the coastal city of Al Khor and the FIFA Fan Festival in Doha to watch the opening match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Sunday.

Hosts Qatar took on Ecuador, who won 2-0 with both goals coming from veteran striker Enner Valencia, in the first opening game defeat for a host nation in the tournament's history.

Fans of Ecuador said they were thrilled to get off to a good start and breathed a sigh of relief after securing three points from the get-go. Qatar's fans were also upbeat, saying they enjoyed the night despite losing their World Cup debut.

The opener is a high-stakes moment for the Muslim nation which has faced a barrage of criticism including over human rights as it stakes its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament. The tournament, the first held in the Middle East and most expensive in its history, marks Qatar’s emergence from a 3.5-year boycott by Saudi Arabia and three Arab allies that ended in 2021.

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