Ecuador’s Enner Valencia, third from left, celebrates after scoring a second goal in the World Cup opener against host country Qatar on Sunday, November 20. Ecuador led 2-0 at halftime.
Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
Updated 12:15 PM EST, Sun, November 20, 2022
For the very first time, the World Cup is taking place in the Middle East.
The tiny nation of Qatar hosts the tournament, one of the biggest and most lucrative sporting spectacles. This is the first time the World Cup has been held in an Islamic country.
But this year’s edition is also mired in controversy, with much of the buildup focusing on human rights, the deaths of migrant workers and the conditions many endured in Qatar, LGBTQ and women’s rights in the country.
The World Cup has always been held in May, June or July, but it was moved to November and December due to Qatar’s hot climate. Temperatures are still expected to hover around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), but organizers hope to combat the heat with several methods, including high-tech cooling systems in stadiums.
Here are the most compelling photos we’ve seen from this World Cup so far:
Cnn
