Soccer mania spreads with FIFA World Cup

The pinnacle of world’s most popular sport, football’s 22nd FIFA World Cup commenced in Qatar yesterday and will continue until December 18. The curtain-raiser Group ‘A’ match between host Qatar and Ecuador was played at 9.30 pm (local time) at the Al Bayt Stadium. Twenty two nations will battle it out for supremacy at eight venues in almost a month long tournament. Here, the Al Bayt Stadium glitters with fireworks at the opening ceremony yesterday night.