Iran Press/ Middle East: From the fifth-largest country in the world (Brazil) in 2014 to the largest country in the world (Russia) in 2018, the World Cup moves to the rich and tiny 164th-largest, Qatar, a country slightly smaller than Connecticut.
The opening ceremony in a tent-shaped stadium will be held at 1440 GMT, ahead of the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.
Onstage, the 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, FIFA said in a statement early Sunday.
Qatar and FIFA hope the spotlight will turn to act on the pitch after the hosts faced mounting criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and social restrictions, including banning alcohol at stadiums and public displays of affection.
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