We'll shift our focus now to build-up to the actual football, the opening game of the 2022 World Cup - Qatar v Ecuador.

I have wondered myself, football-wise, if this might actually be a great World Cup for that exact reason.

We've never had a World Cup when players haven't come off the back of 50-odd games.

Ashley Williams
Former Wales captain on BBC One

We are used to seeing these tournaments at the end of a season, when fatigue is an issue.

That shouldn't be a problem here, players should be fit and sharp. I'm expecting to see good football, entertaining football.

Think that's it now.

I've just seen a half-and-half Qatar v Ecuador scarf. I suppose if there's an OK time to get one it's a World Cup opener.

Yes it's over, they're playing contemporary western pop music.

YESSS - the mascots are back. And some fireworks. I think this is coming to an end now.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

The World Cup in winter is weird, really strange, considering there was a league programme only seven days ago.

I'm hoping once the football gets under way, it starts to feel like a World Cup and we can enjoy what is going to be a great spectacle.

BBC One coverage has started. They're talking about the football instead of this. Let's see what Alan Shearer has to say.

Now he's speaking to the crowd in Arabic, a language I do not speak. He'd have to be speaking in English or very slow Irish for me to follow it to be fair.

One of the Qatari officials has signed something. Gianni Infantino is sitting there with a huge grin on his face.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium

Jung Kook!!

An actual global superstar.

I'm honoured.

Morgan Freeman is back again to talk about how this World Cup is uniting people etc.

Apologies for not knowing my Jung Kook songs. This is Dreamers, a song to mark the start of this World Cup.

And he's been joined by none other than Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.

Jung Kook of South Korean boy band BTS is singing now. This is presumably one of his or their hit songs.

Oh my. Here is the Qatar 2022 mascot and it's giant. It's called La'eeb

Oh look I'll just copy and paste this from the Fifa website - La’eeb is an Arabic word meaning super-skilled player. He belongs to a parallel mascot-verse that is indescribable – everyone is invited to interpret what it looks like. La’eeb encourages everyone to believe in themselves as ‘Now is All’. He will bring the joy of football to everyone.

Now this is a World Cup.

The giant mascots of all the old World Cups are here now.

There's the funny orange from Spain. Italia 90 guy!

There is a dance with all the World Cup flags. Somebody tell my three-year-old who loves flags to get the TV on.

And now giant... um... walking kits?

Now there are some Ardah dancers with swords. Now a topless fella banging some drums.

Morgan Freeman is talking about the "emotions that connect us all now". Wonder how much he's been paid for this.

Oh Morgan Freeman is actually here. They're talking about how this World Cup is open to the whole world.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium

A huge cheer goes up when Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was shown on the big screen.

He was the man who held up the World Cup trophy in Switzerland when Qatar won the bid to hold the tournament back in 2010.

Image source, Getty Images