Who Is Ghanim Al Muftah, The Person Beside Morgan Freeman During World Cup Ceremony

Ghanim Al Muftah was present alongside American veteran actor and voice-over Morgan Freeman in the World Cup opening ceremony.

Morgan Freeman, 85 is an award-winning actor with several features in movies and narrative roles but who is Ghanim Al Muftah who was on the stage with him in Qatar.

Ghanim Al Muftah is a 20-year-old Qatari YouTuber known for his motivational speeches and social media presence, featuring on TEDxQatarUniversity in 2018, aged 16, to talk about his condition, caudal regression syndrome.

Ghanim Al Muftah

Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) affects the development of the lower half of the body, which can include the spine, limbs, bladder, bowels and gut.

The bones in the lower spine can be abnormal or missing, with spinal abnormalities often also affecting the chest, which makes breathing difficult.

Qatar-born Mr Al Muftah was chosen as one of the official FIFA World Cup Ambassadors this year.

Ghanim Al Muftah and Morgan Freeman

In a statement, the Loughborough University politics student said: 'Within my capacities as a [Fifa World Cup] ambassador, I want to send a message of hope, inclusivity, peace, and unity for humanity.'

Mr Al Muftah is known for his philanthropy, having set up the Association of Ghanim with help from his family.

The association donates wheelchairs to the people in need.

Although global known as a YouTuber, he still has over three million followers on Instagram.

He was named 'Ambassador of Peace' by H.H the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, in 2014.

Ghanim hopes to become a future Paralympian and lists football as one of his favourite sports.

The inspirational 20-year-old says he grew up playing football at school wearing shoes on his hands.

The Qatar World Cup started on 20 November 2022, with a vibrant opening ceremony featuring camels, actor Morgan Freeman and a performance by Jung Kook, the singer of K-pop boyband BTS.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, welcomed spectators in English and Arabic.

Four years on from the World Cup in Russia, the Qatar World Cup has drawn its share of controversy after allegations of corruption during the bid to host the event, poor treatment of workers reported by Amnesty International, and illiberal state policies.

Homosexuality is a crime in Qatar and women have limited rights.

Organisers say all are welcome to attend the tournament.