He is there, and his dark glasses too. Rapper Gims performs one of the official songs of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar entitled “Arhbo”, the clip of which was released on Youtube on Saturday by the International Federation (Fifa). On this track, the Congolese rapper who has lived in France most of his life is in duet with the Puerto Rican singer of Latin trap and reggaeton Ozuna.
A first official anthem, “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)” by American RB singer Trinidad Cardona, Nigerian-American Afrobeat star Davido and Qatari Aisha, was released in April. The Qatari World Cup, from November 20 to December 18, will be the first to be held in an Arab country.
The most famous anthem of a World Cup remains “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” by Shakira and the South African group Freshlyground, official music of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The pressure is rising
A few months before the event, the Qatari authorities are ramping up and accelerating preparation for this often decried World Cup. Thus, this week, the organizers circulated 1,300 buses on Thursday in the streets of Doha to simulate life-size public transport through this small Gulf state, which is preparing for a logistical challenge, with suddenly more than a million visitors.
VIDEO. Master Gims: “People don’t want me to take off my glasses”
“These are the most complex transport operations ever mounted for a major sporting event”, assures Ahmad al Obaidly, manager of Mowasalat, the operator of bus and taxi services in Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup, from November 21 to December 18.
Organizers simulated transport conditions between the eight stadiums scheduled for the competition on Thursday on the busiest days of the World Cup, with up to 300,000 supporters in Doha at the same time.