Qatar hasn't enjoyed the international criticism it's attracted, both in the build-up and now at the start, of the first World Cup tournament in a Muslim country - and now all they want, is to prove the world wrong.
For all the controversies leading up to this World Cup, and there have been many, Sunday night in Doha was a night for the fans.
Around 40,000 gathered in the city's main fan zone to welcome in a tournament, the like of which we've never seen before.in a Muslim country, the first in the Middle East, the first to be held in winter. The crowd, although mostly Qatari, was international in colour - Mexicans, Argentinians, Brazilians, Palestinians, Tunisians, Ecuadorians, and the occasional English shirt.
The beer stalls, hidden in a back corner, are one of the few public places fans can now buy and drink alcohol - there was a rush for the front when they opened.FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whose news conference earlier in the day wasMarcel Desailly, Roberto Carlos and Marco Materazzi joined other FIFA legends on stage.
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