The Fifa Fan festival opened its doors to the public on Saturday evening, a day before the Fifa World Cup at Al Bida park in Doha, Qatar.
More than 40,000 fans attended the festival that was officially opened by Fifa president Gianni Infantino with the show set to continue on a daily basis until the end of the World Cup on December 18.
Attending fans were treated to a “Welcome to Qatar” ceremony at the Corniche in Doha with Lebanese singer Myriam Fares and Colombian star Maluma headlining solo concerts as well as a world-exclusive duet performance of the official Fifa Fan Festival anthem, Tukoh Taka (featuring Nicki Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares).
Infantino said: “We want to welcome the World to Qatar for the Fifa World Cup. This place will be open every day during the World Cup, to celebrate the tournament.”
Infantino also presented the official Fifa World Cup trophy that was accompanied by former winners among them Cafu (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Roberto Carlos (Brazil), Bebeto (Brazil), David Trezeguet (France).
The performances by Fares and Maluma was the first of many by top global music acts and local artists over the next four weeks as international award-winning musicians Diplo, Kizz Daniel, Nora Fatehi, Trinidad Cardona and Calvin Harris will all be in action at the Live Stage by Fifa Sound.