Although Egypt won't be fielding a football team at this year's World Cup in Rio, that doesn't mean Egypt won't be represented. Apparently, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, was invited to the opening ceremony by the Brazilian ambassador to Egypt, Marco Brandao, on Tuesday.

According to Brandao “the invitation represents a global recognition of the significant role of Al-Azhar in establishing principals of moderate Islam amid the notable increase of terrorism.” The invitation was made during a meeting to discuss spreading the values of peace of prosperity and renouncing violence.

Oddly the invitation comes a month after FIFA head, Sepp Blatter, announced that there would be no speeches at the opening ceremony. The decision was made after Brazilian President Dilma Roussef was booed last year during the opening match of the Confederation Cup that lead to further protests sweeping Brazil.

This story has been circulated by several major Egyptian news sites in Arabic. If this actually happens, then it will be a sight to see, as millions of eyes and ears who aren't used to hearing about a peaceful Islam will be watching what the Grand Imam has to say about the state of Islam in an increasingly Islamophobic world.