In pictures: The Qatar 2022 World Cup opening ceremony

The most controversial World Cup in history kicked off with an opening ceremony as grand and spectacular as anyone could have predicted.

Over 60,000 people attended the opening ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha, where ultimately Qatar would lose against Ecuador in the first match of the 2022 World Cup.

The event lasted just over half an hour and was filled with fireworks, music, dance, performers, and the unexpected surprise presence of Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman.

The Oscar-winning actor began narrating the event until he appeared on the stage, to the surprise of those attending. It's hard to deny this Hollywood star's incredible voice and charisma.

Freeman gave a speech highlighting unity tolerance, respect, and unity among countries. He shared the stage with Ghanim Al-Muftah, a Qatari personality, and World Cup ambassador who lives with a congenital condition known as Caudal Regression Syndrome.

Another star of the opening ceremony was La'eeb, the ghost-like World Cup mascot modeled after the Keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by men in the arid regions of the Arabic World.

According to FIFA, La'eeb means 'skilled player' and represents the self-confidence each person needs to achieve their goals.

The opening ceremony also had terrific performances and a spectacular light show.

Official songs from previous World Cups played along the light show, including Shakira's 'Waka Waka'. The Colombian pop star had refused to perform live in Qatar, and she was hardly the only one.

Mascots from previous World Cups appeared on the field, around the Qatar 2022 logo. No doubt it will make more than a few fans feel their age.

The official football jerseys of the 32 teams attending the Qatar 2022 World Cup also showed up in the opening ceremony!

The desert is one of the symbols of Qatar and its colors and imagery also played an important part during the opening ceremony.

Bedouins carrying camels walking around a world map symbolized how the World Cup is an event for everyone.

South Korean singer Jungkook, a member of the K-Pop group BTS, performed the song 'Dreamer', which has been written specifically for the World Cup ceremony.

Jungkook shared the stage with Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi, a famous performer of pop music and the more traditional Khaliji music.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, gave a speech where he confessed that this World Cup was fulfilling his lifelong dream.

The Emir of Qatar highlighted in his speech that he regards the World Cup as a great opportunity to have his small but wealthy country to be known around the globe.

The end of the ceremony was marked by an astonishing display of fireworks. However, it's important to remember that the game is the true and only protagonist in here.