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19 Nov 2022; MEMO: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is expected to attend the official opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which commences on Sunday in Qatar.

Informed sources have confirmed to the German Press Agency (DPA) that the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani has sent an official invitation to Tebboune to attend the opening ceremony and the first World Cup match between Qatar and Ecuador.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Gianni Infantino said he feels gay. That he feels like a woman. That he feels like a migrant worker. He lectured Europeans for criticizing Qatar’s human rights record and defended the host country’s last-minute decision to ban beer from World Cup stadiums.

The FIFA president delivered a one-hour tirade on the eve of the World Cup’s opening match, and then spent about 45 minutes answering questions from media about the Qatari government’s actions and a wide range of other topics.

19 Nov 2022; MEMO: The International Association Football Federation (FIFA) on Friday announced the ban on selling alcoholic drinks in World Cup stadiums and their vicinity, stressing that the decision was made with the host country Qatar.

18 Nov 2022; MEMO: The biggest tournament in football will begin on Sunday as host, Qatar, will play the opening match against Ecuador, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The opener of the 29-day tournament will start at 1600 GMT at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in the city of Al Khor, 35 kilometres (21.7 miles) north of Doha.

DOHA Nov 18 (Reuters) - Alcoholic beer will not be sold at Qatar's World Cup stadiums, world soccer governing body FIFA said on Friday, a last minute reversal which raised questions among some supporters about the host country's ability to deliver on promises to fans.

The announcement comes two days before Sunday's kickoff of the World Cup, the first to be held in a conservative Muslim country with strict controls on alcohol, the consumption of which is banned in public.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — World Cup organizers will ban the sale of all beer with alcohol at the eight stadiums used for the soccer tournament, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

The decision comes only two days before games start in Qatar and 12 years after the country first consented to respect FIFA’s commercial partners.

Non-alcoholic beer will still be available for fans at the 64 matches, the person said.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because organizers have not yet announced the decision.

Qatar’s decision to launch itself into hosting the 2022 World Cup was a head-scratcher from the start. Why, some wondered, would a Middle Eastern kingdom with fewer than 3 million people and little soccer tradition want to host the sport’s biggest event?

Skeptics say the country wanted to use the prestige of the World Cup, which starts Sunday, to remake its image as an oil producer with few international connections and a shaky human-rights record.

MOSCOW, November 15. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar next week, Politico, a US-based political daily, reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, Blinken is set to attend a match of the quadrennial global football championship on November 21 between the national teams of the United States and Wales.

Politico also stated that the US secretary of state "is also expected to hold talks with Qatari leaders," but did not provide further details.

12 Nov 2022; MEMO: Two British ships from the UK arrived at the Umm Al-Houl Naval Base in Qatar on Friday as part of bilateral cooperation with Doha to secure the 2022 World Cup.

According to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Amiri Naval Forces received the ships, Bangor and Guardian.

10 Nov 2022; MEMO: A French newspaper has published a cartoon depicting Qatar's national football team as "terrorists", sparking outrage across the Gulf country.

The caricature comes days before Qatar is set to host FIFA World Cup 2022, becoming the first Arab and Middle Eastern country to organise the global tournament.