Twenty-year-old Quran reciter Ghanim Al Muftah, who is also a FIFA World Cup ambassador, will be the qari of the opening ceremony.

It will be organized at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, starting at 5:00 PM local time on Sunday.

The ceremony will kick off the quadrennial footballing extravaganza ahead of the tournament opener between the hosts and Ecuador at the same venue.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be played from today to December 18. It is the 22nd edition of the competition, and the first played in a Muslim, Arab, and Middle Eastern country in the Persian Gulf.

Ghanim Al Muftah is a role model for many youths in the Arab world as he has made many achievements despite having the Caudal Regression Syndrome, a rare disorder that impairs the development of the lower spine.  

Born in May 2002 in Doha, capital of Qatar, Ghanim has written several books and many articles about success and motivation.

Rather than allowing his condition to stunt his life, he has learned to overcome obstacles with positivity and leadership. He is currently pursuing his university degree, majoring in political sciences with an overarching goal of becoming a diplomat. Despite his disability, Ghanim enjoys participating in extreme sports such as scuba diving, skateboarding, and rock climbing.

The following footage features a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Ghanim Al Muftah:

4100968