<p>Tens of thousands of people streamed Sunday towards a spectacular stadium in the shape of a traditional Bedouin tent for the kickoff of the first World Cup held in the Arab world.</p>.<p>With hours to go before hosts Qatar take on Ecuador in the Al-Bayt Stadium, 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Doha, a country that many people say should never have been allowed to host football's showpiece tournament was about to do just that.</p>.<p>Thousands of people arrived at the vast Lusail train station where the subway line built especially for this tournament at a cost of $36 billion ends and spectators boarded a fleet of buses for the final leg of their journey.</p>.<p>The security forces appeared tense, aware that the eyes of the world are on this Gulf state.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/fifa-revenue-hits-75-billion-for-current-world-cup-period-1164112.html" target="_blank">FIFA revenue hits $7.5 billion for current World Cup period</a></strong></p>.<p>Once the spectators arrived at the spectacular venue, camels and horses lined the road to the turnstiles.</p>.<p>Carlos Alvear, an Ecuadoran who lives in Ecuador, said: "It's really special to be here. It's the first World Cup in the Middle East, it's historic and Ecuador is here for the opening match.</p>.<p>"To be honest, it's all a bit bizarre. It's pretty quiet, even if there are more Ecuadorans than I thought there would be. But all these buildings look pretty empty."</p>.<p>For a Qatari supporter who gave his name only as Abdallah, it was an exciting moment.</p>.<p>"We have been waiting for this moment for 12 years," he said. "We have every confidence for this festival... We trust in our team. We have ambition but are realistic."</p>.<p>He was confident of victory against the South Americans and predicted his team would be runners-up in their group and go through to the next round -- where England could await.</p>.<p>"Today we will win, but we will be second behind the Netherlands. Then against England, we will win," he said with a smile.</p>.<p>Danny, a supporter from the English city of Norwich, is here to support his country but will "jump on the bandwagon today" and support Qatar.</p>.<p>His friend who gave his name only as Abdul, from Sheffield in northern England, had brought a Qatari flag and was wearing a red top under his England shirt in case Qatar scored.</p>.<p>Danny was staying in the shipping container accommodation set up for visiting supporters for two weeks and said it "isn't quite what he was expecting".</p>.<p>Away from the opening match, thousands of Mexican and Argentinian fans thronged the Corniche seafront promenade in the centre of Doha.</p>.<p>Leopold Fes, a 65-year-old Belgian, said he was finding it difficult to accept the last-minute decision to ban the sale of alcohol at stadiums in this strict Islamic state.</p>.<p>"I don't think it will be like other World Cups," he said. "No alcohol makes it strange. Football and alcohol go together for a lot of people."</p>
<p>Tens of thousands of people streamed Sunday towards a spectacular stadium in the shape of a traditional Bedouin tent for the kickoff of the first World Cup held in the Arab world.</p>.<p>With hours to go before hosts Qatar take on Ecuador in the Al-Bayt Stadium, 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Doha, a country that many people say should never have been allowed to host football's showpiece tournament was about to do just that.</p>.<p>Thousands of people arrived at the vast Lusail train station where the subway line built especially for this tournament at a cost of $36 billion ends and spectators boarded a fleet of buses for the final leg of their journey.</p>.<p>The security forces appeared tense, aware that the eyes of the world are on this Gulf state.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/fifa-revenue-hits-75-billion-for-current-world-cup-period-1164112.html" target="_blank">FIFA revenue hits $7.5 billion for current World Cup period</a></strong></p>.<p>Once the spectators arrived at the spectacular venue, camels and horses lined the road to the turnstiles.</p>.<p>Carlos Alvear, an Ecuadoran who lives in Ecuador, said: "It's really special to be here. It's the first World Cup in the Middle East, it's historic and Ecuador is here for the opening match.</p>.<p>"To be honest, it's all a bit bizarre. It's pretty quiet, even if there are more Ecuadorans than I thought there would be. But all these buildings look pretty empty."</p>.<p>For a Qatari supporter who gave his name only as Abdallah, it was an exciting moment.</p>.<p>"We have been waiting for this moment for 12 years," he said. "We have every confidence for this festival... We trust in our team. We have ambition but are realistic."</p>.<p>He was confident of victory against the South Americans and predicted his team would be runners-up in their group and go through to the next round -- where England could await.</p>.<p>"Today we will win, but we will be second behind the Netherlands. Then against England, we will win," he said with a smile.</p>.<p>Danny, a supporter from the English city of Norwich, is here to support his country but will "jump on the bandwagon today" and support Qatar.</p>.<p>His friend who gave his name only as Abdul, from Sheffield in northern England, had brought a Qatari flag and was wearing a red top under his England shirt in case Qatar scored.</p>.<p>Danny was staying in the shipping container accommodation set up for visiting supporters for two weeks and said it "isn't quite what he was expecting".</p>.<p>Away from the opening match, thousands of Mexican and Argentinian fans thronged the Corniche seafront promenade in the centre of Doha.</p>.<p>Leopold Fes, a 65-year-old Belgian, said he was finding it difficult to accept the last-minute decision to ban the sale of alcohol at stadiums in this strict Islamic state.</p>.<p>"I don't think it will be like other World Cups," he said. "No alcohol makes it strange. Football and alcohol go together for a lot of people."</p>