If you needed one more example of how this is so different to anything we've ever seen before, the call to prayer which echoed through the walk from Al Bidda station down toward the park was probably it.
The World Cup has never been to a country like Qatar, and frankly it shouldn't have done in this manner, but the fans making that determined walk toward the main Doha fan park were doing so out of curiosity, pride and a love for something that might not be the football that we know, but is their football, or the vision of it that they have been sold anyway.
The happy families and friendly locals and are not the ones to blame for the tournament being here, or for FIFA's love of money before all else, and as that familiar call to prayer boomed all around them, something that they hear every day, they walked on toward that fan park knowing that this is what it has all been about, something that they have never seen.
But some still wouldn't.
Police had formed a long line along the side of the road, some of them linking arms in a bid to prevent anyone breaking through the human barrier, but at this stage nobody really tried to as the excited walk towards the fan park continued.
This was around 40 minutes or so before kick-off in Qatar's opening match against Ecuador, and it was just then that the message came over the tannoys that the enormous FIFA Fan Festival was now closed, nobody else could be let in.
In truth that was probably for the best and it removed the possibility for overcrowding, especially with many more walking behind, and you would probably see something similar this close to kick-off in most countries hosting large scale events, but it wasn't news that went down well outside.
Fans of all nationalities were left perplexed and wondering why they had been allowed to get so close to the Al Bidda Park venue if they were only going to be turned away, especially as police further up the road were happy to let people through.
Some fans lamented the fact they'd miss the enticing atmosphere, others just fancied a beer in one of the few places they are freely available. Neither were getting their way.
Tensions then escalated somewhat as a new barrier of police appeared on the corner of the main entrance. Some people became agitated and a sense of frustration was starting to build, although it hadn't yet reached the level that was later reported.
It had clearly been decided that no-one else was getting in, with media turned away and many others stating their case to whichever police officer was stood in the line in front of them, all to no avail.
With no other option in this very one way only city, we were ushered away towards the vast buildings of the Corniche and sent into the land of the giants, with many of Doha's enormous skyscrapers adorned with an image of a superstar playing at this tournament, and Sadio Mane.
Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Virgil van Dijk, Manuel Neuer, they were all there, and as you gazed at them through tired eyes you thought for more than a second that they could well come alive and start having a kickabout. Frankly, nothing surprises you here.
Thankfully those behemoths stayed inanimate though, and in many ways each one passed came to represent just what this tournament is, something akin to a giant FIFA theme park planted in a spot on the planet that seems to exist solely for the purpose of milking everything that elite level football has to offer. You do wonder what comes after.
For now though we have the game, and after passing a few more giants - Neymar, Dusan Tadic, Pedri - we stumbled upon the Vortex Cafe with a big outdoor screen which was overlooked by spinning LED Qatar and Ecuador kits, as well as a looming Luka Modric.
Things were much calmer here, and fans - many of them women and children - quietly settled down to watch the match, initially letting out a sigh of desperation when Ecuador's Enner Valencia scored in the third minute, followed by confused applause when it was disallowed by VAR.
Valencia would go on to have his moments though, and with the odd Ecuador shirt to be seen among a crowd of many nationalities there was a lively, engaged atmosphere, even if it did all seem a little like a curiosity to some.
Some Qataris began to leave before the end of the match, and all did bang on full-time, as a night which had promised much fell flat in a manner that those with a passing knowledge of Ecuador and Qatar's teams could probably have told you it would.
No matter though, the party goes on, with enormous fireworks soon lighting up the bay.
Night one is done, the football has begun, and for that we should probably be thankful.
What happens next is anyone's guess though.
