With just over 230 days until the first ball is kicked on 21 November, the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022(TM) will set the path for the 29 teams that have qualified so far, along with the eight teams that remain in contention, three of whom will seal the last spots up for grabs in June. The draw will be the centrepiece of a one-hour show – kicking off today at 19:00 Doha time (18:00 CET) – that is watched live in every corner of the globe.
Apart from the draw itself, which will last around 40 minutes, live performances inspired by a striking fusion of traditional and modern will provide guests at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, and fans at home a taste of what to expect from the host country, Qatar. The presenters commanding the most impressive draw stage ever seen will be award-winning actor Idris Elba and renowned sports broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury.
“I’ve been on many stages before, but this will be a very special one. I’m delighted to present this beautiful show to the world, together with Reshmin. It will be a classic show and somewhat daring,” said Elba.
“I’m beyond excited. It’s been a thrill to find out the qualified teams and see the anticipation everywhere here in Doha, and it’s a privilege to have such a prominent role in the show. As a Muslim woman, it’ll be an extra-special honour to be on stage for this milestone event ahead of the very first FIFA World Cup in the Arab world,” added Chowdhury.
The stage design will showcase the swing and lightness of the dhow boat, the sweeping formations and organic lines that can be seen in the architecture of the Qatar 2022(TM) stadiums and the natural shapes of the desert dunes.
The show entertainment will include a live audiovisual performance of the traditional musical art of fijiri, composed by Faisal al Tamimi and Greg M. Johnson and starring Ali Al-Haddad, which will feature visuals of iconic buildings around the world – from the Louvre in Paris to the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City. There will also be the debut public performance of the first release from the multi-song Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack.
Once the audience in Doha and at home are warmed up, the presenters will hand over to the conducting team and the eight draw assistants, who will draw the participating member associations into eight groups of four teams for the final tournament. This will enable players and fans alike to start plotting their respective teams’ path to potential World Cup glory.
Source and cover image credit: Press Release
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