Qatar's Sheikha Moza bint Nasser welcomes everyone to the World Cup

Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad and Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad also greeted leaders and fans on opening night

Qatar's Sheikha Moza bint Nasser pictured with her husband, former emir Sheikh Hamad. All photos: @mozabintnasser / Instagram

Sheikha Moza, left, with daughter Sheikha Hind bint Hamad and son, former Qatar heir apparent Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad

Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor hosted the opening ceremony

Sheikh Jassim, left, with Sheikha Moza

'The time is now. Welcome to the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022,' Sheikha Moza wrote on Instagram

Sheikha Moza and Sheikha Hind with younger family members

Sheikha Moza with Sheikh Hamad

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim delivers a speech on the opening night

The eyes of the world were on Qatar on Sunday night, as the Fifa World Cup 2022 kicked off.

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, mother of Sheikh Tamim, the Emir of Qatar, was among those in attendance at Al Bayt Stadium, where the opening ceremony was held.

"The time has come," she wrote in a caption on Instagram, alongside a carousel of images from the evening. “The time is now. Welcome to the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022."

The images show her with her husband, Sheikh Hamad, former emir of Qatar, and her children, Sheikha Hind bint Hamad and former heir apparent Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad.

She also posted a Reel with clips from the opening night, with the message: "Welcome, and good luck to all."

Sheikha Moza, who is also the co-founder and chairwoman of the Qatar Foundation, married Sheikh Hamad in 1977.

Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad, Sheikh Tamim's first wife and consort, received the wives of world leaders from participating countries as the much-anticipated event began.

Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad, Sheikh Tamim's sister and Sheikha Moza's daughter, also posted a photo of the opening ceremony to Instagram, writing in the caption: "Tonight we celebrated the world through the power of football. I couldn’t be more proud of our leader, my brother — my whole family — the men and women who worked day and night for this moment.

"For 12 years Qatar was unfairly attacked — for some reason these critics believed that an Arab and Muslim nation was incompetent to organise such a tournament. Tonight we set the bar high, and La3eeb is ready to take you through a journey of a lifetime.

"We’re ready to welcome all those who are here, and those who will arrive in the coming weeks. Hard luck to Qatar and congrats to Ecuador."

Enner Valencia led Ecuador to victory in their opening match as the South Americans eased past Qatar.

Valencia scored both goals in the 2-0 win at Al Bayt Stadium to give Ecuador the ideal start in Group A.

Qatar manager Felix Sanchez conceded the weight of the occasion got to his players as they became the first host nation in World Cup history to suffer defeat in their opening game.

“There’s no excuse. We want to congratulate our opponents, they deserved to win,” Sanchez said.

Scroll through the gallery below to see more images of the opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. PA

Fireworks explode during the show. Getty Images

Mascots of former World Cups united. AP Photo

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim, centre, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, Jordan's King Abdullah II King of Jordan, left, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino, second right, at the opening ceremony. AFP

South Korean singer Jung Kook, centre, performs. AFP

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha. AFP

Singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi performs. Getty Images

Performers welcomed the world during the opening ceremony. Reuters

A giant inflatable emblem during the opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor City. PA

Performers during the opening ceremony. PA

Morgan Freeman performs on stage. Getty Images

The performers opened the show. EPA

The Qatar World Cup opening ceremony. Reuters

Dancers performing together. PA

The opening ceremony before the Qatar versus Ecuador game. EPA

Former footballer Marcel Desailly holds the Fifa World Cup trophy ahead of the opening ceremony. AFP

A young Qatar supporter at the stadium. EPA

Ecuador fans in the stands before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup. Reuters

A dancer performs at sunset before the Fifa World Cup kicks off with a Group A match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. PA

Fans record moments from the first match of Qatar 2022 inside the Al Bayt World Cup stadium. Reuters

Performers outside the Al Bayt Stadium entertain the crowds before the Fifa World Cup 2022 Group A opening match between Qatar and Ecuador kicks off. EPA

A Qatar fan wears his national colours outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters

Fans arrive at the Al Bayt Stadium before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup begins. Reuters

Qatar fans on rollerblades outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters

Ecuador fans on their way to watch the opening match of the Qatar World Cup 2022. Reuters

A performer with a replica World Cup before the Fifa World Cup Group A match gets under way at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. PA