Ilian has his memories still well in mind.
Four years ago, in Russia, he was already doing this job.
Transport VIPs from the stadium to their means of transport.
A comfortable job that already allowed him to taste the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet.
Half-time has just been whistled this Sunday evening at Al Bayt Stadium, a grandiose enclosure planted in the middle of the desert, but visibly, the party already seems to be over.
“We agree, does this sound crazy?
he swings, turning on himself.
Dozens of spectators gather, bag of goodies in hand, towards the exits leading to the huge car parks.
Qatar trails Ecuador 2-0 for the opening game.
And the provisional result has already got the better of part of the audience.
The Abdullah brothers are 14 and 12 years old.
They live in the city of Al-Khor, where one of the eight World Cup stadiums has been relocated.
Their place, they paid for it but does not prevent.
These two aren't disgusted, angry or anything else.
They are just jaded by the performance of their players, authors of a first act, it is true, quite painful.
“Of course we leave, they lose.
Last time they won 3-0.
There, they take two goals and yellow cards, ”laughs the youngest.
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The Al-Annabi ("the Bordeaux"), novices at such a level, had a lot of trouble getting into their game.
As if the fervor aroused by the opening ceremony was too difficult to assume, the flame impossible to maintain, once the meeting has started.
“It is an honor for us to be able to host such an event”
This is not how the host country had imagined its start to the competition.
The sporting performance is nothing short of infamous.
Only, the decor - very polished and family - has lost some of its splendor over the minutes.
A mini-kop was installed at the foot of one of the two goals, but this folklore was not enough to retain part of the public.
Many empty seats in the stadium in the 2nd half.
Obviously some Qataris have already left, after their team's tough 45 minutes #QatarWorldCup2022 #QATECU pic.twitter.com/qQsk0E0PbH
— Philippe Randé (@philippe_rande) November 20, 2022
Like Amar, there was pride at the start of the evening in the eyes of many spectators.
This Palestinian, born in Qatar, had taken places for the occasion for her three daughters.
One of them, cleats on her foot and a Blues jersey on her shoulders, is delighted to be able to exchange a few words of French learned at school.
" Things are going well ?
“, she articulates.
“It is an honor for us to be able to host such an event.
We prepared it for a long time so I couldn't miss it, ”congratulates the mother.
Next to them, Ecuadorians have also just passed through the security gates.
Some car traffic problems for them, but “nothing really disturbing compared to South America”, tempers George, 22 years old.
"We are very excited to spend the next ten days here."
The Ecuadorian clan will have given a little heat to the surroundings of the stadium.
An island of clamor which, at times, managed to make people forget the incessant buzzing of the air conditioning system.
Installed on the top floor of the stadium, the turbines cannot be seen but can be heard from the outside.
Read alsoWorld Cup 2022: the air conditioning was turned on for the opening match
Inside, it's the complete opposite.
Literally and figuratively, the atmosphere was refreshed throughout this evening of November 20, 2022. It is 8:59 p.m., the match ends.
2-0, final score.
And the food stands, finally deprived of alcohol at the last moment, have still not really found takers on the forecourt.
Mohammad is not there.
He too slipped away at the break.
“It's like that, it doesn't matter, he commented furtively.
I came for the ceremony.
In his defense, some did not have his patience and left the stadium in the 31st minute of play and the second Ecuadorian goal.