There was a vote that wasn't fair. There is a date shift. There is an endless construction. Human rights abuses are being alleged. There is fear from fans of the gay community. There is concern over the climate over outdoor stadiums. There was a flip-flops on beer sales. It was supposed to be the president's greeting.
It has been a preamble that is unlike anything sports have ever seen before. The largest soccer tournament on the planet takes place in the Arabian desert. The games started on Sunday night.
There is a report on the World Cup matches.
There was something familiar wrapped in something new. An honor guard of camels and horses lined the road as royals and other people arrived to watch a soccer match. The men and women filled the stands in the concourses. There was no alcohol on the site. The Al Bayt Stadium felt modern on the inside, but will have most of its frame dismantled and recycled once the tournament is over.
The fans continued to scream. They continued to chant. They continued to dance and sing. There was still a giant flag and a replica of the World Cup trophy on the field just before the game started. The players pulled their shoulders back when the national anthem was played, even though the drummers were still pounding on the esplanade.
The referee made a noise. The players started running. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, it came to an Arab nation.
"I am proud to be the first player to captain our national team in the World Cup," said Al-Haydos, who has 170 appearances for his national team. The team is ready for the tournament.
Beer sales are on hold and Benzema ruled out.
This is the largest stage that the country has ever played on. South Africa is the lowest-ranked World Cup host of all time, at 83rd. In their 2-0 win over the hosts, the gap in talent was shown by the fact that there was only one goal ruled out by the VAR after just three minutes and that it was a penalty kick by Enner Valencia.
The players slumped a little. The fans behind the goal were unwilling to let the players down, even though they were behind the goal.
There were two men in traditional dress riding horses in the Souq Waqif. It was quaint, a scene of seeming authenticity that included a moment where one of the animals relieved itself, its droppings falling into a pile on the street.
There was a man in a gray shirt and blue pants with a red plastic shovel. Within seconds of it hitting the ground, the droppings were swept into his bucket and disappeared again, effectively removing anything that might mar the market's pristine appearance. It was great. The overarching approach hasn't been as effective as it could have been in removing the other pitfalls of the World Cup.
The list is long. Some issues, like the jamming of a tournament into the middle of the club season, affect the players and possibly the play. There are more concerns about the fan experience, for example, or fan villages made of shipping containers, or the promise to relax alcohol restrictions in this conservative Muslim nation that was reversed just two days ago.
The idea that there is anything wrong with the host country of the event is something that the president of the organization has always opposed. He said at his introductory news conference that he knows what it's like to be gay in a country where homosexuality is illegal because as a child he was bullied for being red-haired. Infantino's main argument was that Europe's history of atrocities made anyone from the West not be able to identify injustice.
The opening ceremony had a more conciliatory tone in it's welcome address, but it was still a bit uncomfortable.
What could it not do? The players, coaches and teams have ignored the pre-tournament letter requesting they focus only on soccer and instead do what they can to highlight messages of inclusiveness and positive vibes. England will have their captains wear armbands with the message "one love" on it. The U.S. team displayed their crest at their hotel. Hummel designed a "toned down" kit for the tournament in order to protest against the treatment of migrant workers who are responsible for building much of the tournament's infrastructure.
There's still some work to be done, but there's a lot of progress that has been made in the country. It is important to bring awareness to these issues when we are on the world stage.
The second goal of the game came after just half an hour, and was scored by Valencia, who would have had a first-hat trick save for VAR. After the first goal was called back, the goalkeeper deflated as he pulled the ball out of the net for a third time, looking angry.
The World Cup in 2022, how to understand it.
It wasn't the start they wanted, and certainly not the start they had in mind. No host has ever lost the opening match of a World Cup, but no host has ever had much soccer experience. Many fans left the stadium at the midway point of the second half as the energy in the stadium went down.
South Korea made a surprising run in their home tournament in 2002, while Russia did the same in 2004. It is possible in a way that is pure. Even if they don't, they will have accomplished something. They've opened a sporting door and expanded the reach of a grand tournament that has been around for a long time.
The World Cup makes for a confusing mix of things which feels discomfiting.
What should I think about it over the next month? What is the end result? There is only one thing certain, and that is that this World Cup will be different than any other.
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