One week into the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East that is under way in Qatar, there has been much for us to relish.
For anyone who did not follow the tournament game by game, here is a collection of highlights over the first quarter of the 29-day event:
Qatar opens World Cup in hope of bridging distances
Much about Qatar's hosting of this year's tournament has been not traditional, including the Olympics-style opening ceremony.
The Qatar 2022 mascot La'eeb performs 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 on November 20, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
During the half-hour ceremony produced by Olympic ceremony veteran Marco Balich, Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman extended one yellow-gloved hand to Qatari YouTuber Ghanim Al Muftah, an ambassador of the World Cup 2022 who suffers from a rare spinal disorder.
US actor Morgan Freeman (L) and Qatari YouTuber Ghanim al Muftah attend 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 on November 20, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Their dialogue at the start of the ceremony offered a possible Qatari answer to questions that had been raised in the lead-up to the tournament.
Freeman sat beside Muftah and asked, “How can so many countries, languages and cultures come together if only one way is accepted?”
"We were raised to believe that we were scattered on this Earth as nations and tribes, so we could learn from each other and find beauty in the differences," the local star said. "With tolerance and respect, we can live together under one big home."
"So we gather here as one big tribe, and Earth is the tent we all live in," Freeman told the crowd.
The ceremony was taking place, incidentally, at the Al Bayt stadium, a spectacular Bedouin tent-inspired building with a glorious tent-like roof.
Host nation's early exit from tournament
The sparkling ceremony may have been a source of pride for Qatari fans, but what happened next was very likely not.
The host nation's first-ever World Cup campaign started with disappointment as Qatari men failed to stop Ecuador captain Enner Valencia, who scored two goals in the first half. Qatar eventually slumped to a 2-0 defeat to the South American side in the opening match.
Ecuador's players celebrate during the World Cup opening game against host Qatar at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on November 20, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
It brought the Gulf state an unwanted place in football history, as no host country before Qatar had ever lost the opener in the 92-year history of the tournament.
Then Qatar suffered a second straight defeat 1-3 against Senegal on Friday and became the first team to be knocked out of this World Cup.
Ismail Mohamad of Qatar reacts after a missed chance during their World Cup clash with Senegal at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on November 25, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
Asian champions Qatar had high hopes heading into the tournament but become only the second home team to crash out in the group stage, after South Africa in 2010.
Shocking upsets for Argentina and Germany
For Argentina and Germany fans, the past week was heartbreaking, as both teams were considered to be favorites of the tournament but were shockingly taken down by lower-ranking Asian teams.
Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-match unbeaten streak and was hoping to match the international record for unbeaten games of 37. But Tuesday's stunning 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia left the team in a precarious position.
Saudi Arabia's players celebrate after scoring a goal in the FIFA World Cup game against Argentina at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on November 22, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
But the South American giant's hopes were kept alive thanks to two second-half goals from veteran Lionel Messi and rising star Enzo Fernandez in Saturday's game against Mexico. The Albiceleste still need to win their final group match against Poland to guarantee a place in the last 16.
Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, celebrates with his teammate Julian Alvarez after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Mexico, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on November 26, 2022. (Photo: AP)
Germany shared a similar fate to Argentina as the four-time champions fell to Japan 2-1 in another World Cup shock in the opening game of Group E.
Germany's players react after their 2-1 loss to Japan during their World Cup group match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, November 23, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
Costa Rica's surprise win over Japan on Sunday complicated Germany's prospects in Group E. In a following heavyweight clash against Spain, Niclas Fuellkrug's late equalizer snatched Germany a morale-boosting 1-1 draw with the Euro 2020 semifinalist.
Japan's midfielder #15 Daichi Kamada reacts as Costa Rica's players celebrate their first goal scored by defender #04 Keysher Fuller during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Japan and Costa Rica at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 27, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Hansi Flick's men came to Qatar desperate to avoid the humiliation of 2018, when as defending champions they came short of reaching knockout stage. Their humiliation four years ago was sealed coincidentally by South Korea, Japan's East Asia neighbor.
Rise of underdogs
As much as these were humiliating defeats for Argentina and Germany, they were historic victories for Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Saudi Arabia entered the tournament as an underdog as the team was placed 51st worldwide, the second-lowest ranked in the tournament, only above Ghana. But when the Gulf State took on Argentina, the competition went well beyond anyone's expectation.
Saleh Al-Shehri (front) of Saudi Arabia shoots to score in the FIFA World Cup game against Argentina the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on November 22, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
The Green Falcons' 2-1 victory was undeniably one of the key moments of this – or any – World Cup as its chance of winning against Argentina was estimated at 8.7 percent, the biggest shock in World Cup history statistically.
The previous most surprising World Cup win was USA's victory against England in 1950, in which the American team had been given a 9.5 percent chance of victory, according to reports from CNN.
Barely 27 hours after the biggest upset, Japan came back from 1-0 down and claimed a 2-1 triumph to sink four-time champions Germany.
Japan's players and coach celebrate their 2-1 win over Germany after their World Cup group match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar on November 23, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
The Samurai Blue had never vanquished illustrious Germany in their previous four meetings. But, eight of the squad Japan sent to Qatar are playing in big leagues in Germany and it was two among those players who scored the goals that sealed victory for the Asian side.
Iran joined the festivities on Friday as the team celebrated beating a European team at a World Cup for the first time. The West Asian team struck twice in the dying moments of added time to earn a stunning 2-0 win over Wales, climbing to second in their group just behind England.
Iran's defender #15 Roozbeh Cheshmi (rear C) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Wales and Iran at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 25, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Another shock came from Morocco as the team claimed a historic win against Belgium 2-0 on Sunday to leave the world's second-ranked side and the 2018 semifinalist in peril of a group-stage exit. Notably it was Morocco's first win at a World Cup since 1998 and only its third ever.
Morocco's Yahya Jabrane, top, celebrates with Abdelhamid Sabiri (11) after Sabiri scored a goal during the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Morocco, at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on November 27, 2022. (Photo: AP)
France's avoidance of World Cup holders' curse
With an early qualification from Group D, France escaped the fate of the four defending champions who suffered early elimination this century even though Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema was sidelined by thigh injuries ahead of the tournament.
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe (C) scores his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 26, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Les Bleus claimed football's most-coveted glory on home soil in 1998, but fell at the first hurdle in 2002, never recovering from the shock of their opening-match defeat by Senegal and going home with no goals and a single point.
Twenty years after their first World Cup triumph, the team lifted the trophy again at Russia in 2018. In Qatar, they were able to break down the curse of the reigning champions thanks to wins against Australia (4-1) and Denmark (2-1), emerging as the first team to qualify for the last 16 of Qatar 2022.
Stability of traditional powers
While emerging powers are causing nervous moments, some traditional powers remained well on track to pursue glory in their World Cup campaigns.
England started this year's tournament on a high note as the team thrashed Iran 6-2 in the Group B opener to underline their title credentials.
Antonee Robinson of the United States runs with the ball chased by England's Bukayo Saka, left, during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on November 25, 2022. (Photo: AP)
But the team missed the chance to qualify for the last 16 with a game to spare on Friday as they were held to a goalless draw by the United States. The Three Lions will go through if they avoid defeat by neighbor Wales.
Spain also got their World Cup off to the perfect start on Wednesday by hammering Costa Rica 7-0. But the team must beat Japan in their final World Cup Group E match to advance to the last 16.
Spain's players applaud the fans after the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Spain and Costa Rica at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on November 23, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
In Group G, Brazil's Richarlison scored twice in Thursday's collision against Serbia to send the South American side to the top of the group as the team launched its bid to win a record-extending sixth title in Qatar.
Brazil's Richarlison,second right, scores the second goal of his team against Serbia during the World Cup group G soccer match between Brazil and Serbia, at the the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on November 24, 2022. (Photo: Official Weibo account of FIFA)
For Portugal, a tight 3-2 win over Ghana proved enough for Fernando Santos' team to stay on top in Group H, two points ahead of Uruguay and South Korea. One of the three goals was netted by Cristiano Ronaldo, making the Portuguese captain the first man to score in five World Cups, only days after parting ways with Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates his historic goal during their World Cup group clash with Ghana at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on November 24, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
Elsewhere, 2018 runners-up Croatia kept a good momentum by crushing Canada 4-1 to see off the North American side.
Croatia players celebrate after Croatia's midfielder #07 Lovro Majer (not seen) scored their team's fourth goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup on November 27, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
What to watch in the coming week
Only France has established an absolute advantage for a place in the knockout stage so far. So the final round of competition in the group stage will be critical for many teams if they want to continue their run in Qatar.
In Group E, Spain leads with four points. Japan and Costa Rica have three each. Germany has one. Since all sides' hopes of qualifying for the last 16 are in the balance in this "Group of Death," it will be interesting to see how the final round of games will pan out.