Morgan Freeman and BTS’s Jung Kook Help Kick Off Controversial World Cup in Qatar

Sunday marks the first day of matches in the 22nd FIFA World Cup. (Even if you are not a soccer fan, surely you are familiar with the FIFA organization, the totally above-board organization immortalized in the cinematic masterpiece United Passions.) The time zone-defiant event often leads to boosters of a particular national team heading to bars at 6 o’clock in the morning to cheer along, turning entire neighborhoods into airport lounges of “anything goes” alcohol consumption. 

The quadrennial competition’s host country this time is Qatar, a selection not without its share of controversy. There have been allegations of bribery and of the mistreatment of migrant workers who built the stadia, leading to a reported 6,500 deaths. Also, there’s Qatar’s record on LGBT rights. (Homosexuality is illegal there, and if caught can lead to a three-year prison sentence.)

As such, booking celebs for the opening ceremony proved a little difficult. Dua Lipa and Rod Stewart are known to have passed. (Stewart said he turned down a $1 million offer, but said, “it’s not right to go.”) But Jung Kook of BTS and Morgan Freeman elected to make an appearance at the newly opened Al-Bayt Stadium. Robbie Williams also plans to perform during the competition, and defended his decision, saying, “anybody leaving messages saying ‘no to Qatar’ are doing so on Chinese technology.” Many other artists are rumored to appear, but thus far, the organizers are trying to maintain surprises.

At the kick-off event, before a capacity crowd of 60,000 people, the 85-year-old Oscar-winning Freeman emerged to poorly lip-synch some purple prose, wondering if he was welcome in this mysterious realm. Ghanim al-Muftah, a Qatari YouTuber with Caudal Regression Syndrome, was there to reassure him of FIFA and Qatar’s benevolence. After some rather stilted dialogue, the two men reached out their hands, but did not touch. In the background were camels. The whole thing certainly had a touch of David Lynch to it. 

After some flag-raising and marching spectacle (and an appearance by La’eeb, the event’s Caspar the Friendly Ghost-esque mascot), international pop sensation Jung Kook took to the stage to perform his new hit “Dreamers,” an official anthem of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“Look who we are/we are the dreamers/we make it happen/‘cause we believe it,” he sang. 

After some words from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who has three wives, the first game commenced. At press time, Ecuador was beating Qatar 2-0.