The World Cup kicked off with host nation Qatar facing Ecuador as the month-long football showpiece finally gets underway.
It’s been a tortuous 12-year build-up dogged by off-field controversies.
Ecuador fans roared their disapproval of Qatar’s last-minute alcohol ban during Sunday’s World Cup opener as thousands of supporters walked out of the stadium early.
Debutants Qatar became the first World Cup hosts in history to lose their opening fixture as Ecuador’s captain Enner Valencia bagged a first-half brace, but he could well have had a hat-trick if not for a polarising Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision.
Meanwhile, an official crowd of 67,372 was announced by FIFA, but home fans soon began to stream out once their side went down 2-0 just after half an hour. By the final whistle, the stadium was largely empty.
