Morgan Freeman Kicks Off Controversial World Cup With Emotional Speech As BTS’ Jungkook Performs: Video

Morgan Freeman gave an affectional code astatine the opening ceremonies of the 2022 World Cup successful Qatar connected Sunday, November 20. The 85-year-old Oscar winner’s connection was 1 of inclusivity and togetherness, which seemed to beryllium successful effect to the outcry implicit the Gulf authorities hosting the event, arsenic it retains an abysmal quality rights record. Morgan’s quality during the kickoff, which had an Olympic opening ceremonial vibe, was followed by a show from BTS‘ Jungkook.

“Football spans the world, unites nations successful their emotion of the beauteous game,” Morgan said successful his code arsenic helium walked into the stadium to a thunderous applause. “What brings unneurotic nations, brings unneurotic communities. There is simply a communal thread of hope, jubilation and respect.”

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who was flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, echoed Morgan’s statement, saying the world’s top shot tourney is an equalizer. “From Qatar, from the Arab world, I invited everyone to the World Cup 2022,” helium said successful Arabic. “How beauteous it is that radical tin enactment speech what divides them to observe their diverseness and what brings them unneurotic each astatine once.”

The 2022 World Cup has been formed nether a shadiness of controversy, not lone for Qatar’s violations of quality rights, but besides for their alleged corruption successful the bidding process for the tournament, per YahooSports. Notably, Morgan was a look down the United States’ effort to unafraid the 2022 World Cup bid 12 years agone earlier FIFA awarded the tourney to Qatar amid waves of corruption scandals.

Jung Kook delivers astatine the #Qatar2022 opening ceremony! 🎶#Dreamers2022 | @bts_bighit

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022

Fortunately, BTS’ Jungkook whitethorn person taken viewers’ minds disconnected the scandals erstwhile helium performed aft Morgan’s speech. The Korean superstar linked up with Qatari vocalist Fahad Al Kubaisi connected the signifier and gave a rousing rendition of “Dreamers.” The upbeat ditty volition beryllium utilized by FIFA arsenic an authoritative opus for the 2022 World Cup.

Fans took to societal media to amusement Jungkook their support. arsenic 1 posted, “I’m truthful so arrogant of you junkook I emotion the dreamers truthful overmuch you smashed this show you looked truthful gorgeous arsenic well,” arsenic different shared, “I deliberation it volition go 1 of the astir loved opus disconnected each the connection cups :)”

The ceremonial preceded the archetypal lucifer of the tourney betwixt Qatar and Ecuador astatine 11 a.m. EST.