QATAR
matches thanks to the proximity of
hosting stadiums – though the relatively
small capacity of most stadiums may
thwart this plan.
Of the eight stadiums, two have
been completed: the existing 40,000-
capacity Khalifa International Stadium,
which was rebuilt for the World Athletics
Championships, and the Al Janoub
Stadium, whose 40,000 capacity will
be reduced by half after the World Cup.
A third arena, Education City Stadium
(40,000), is due to be completed by
December and will be used for the Club
World Cup, while the key Lusail Iconic
Stadium (80,000) – which will host
the opening ceremony, opening match
and Final – is at an “advanced stage”
according to organisers.
Of the others, Al Bayt (60,000)
is “nearing completion” while Al Rayyan
(40,000), is “more than half finished”.
At Al Thumama (40,000 to be reduced
to 20,000 after the World Cup), the
stadium’s concrete frame is ready and
work on the upper-tier stands is nearing
completion. The least advanced stadium
appears to be Ras Abu Aboud (40,000)
which will be constructed with “modular
building blocks” and entirely dismantled
after the finals.
A shiny new metro, complete with VIPlounges at stations, is planned to connect
all the venues, although only a small
part of it is open at present and stations
themselves are remotely located and
not connected to the city’s bus network- although there is a discounted taxi
service within a certain radius.
Al Khater says a mixture of cruise ships,
desert camps and apartment rentals will
provide enough accommodation and the
organisers recently published a list of
“10 things to do in Qatar besides
football”: stroll along the Corniche; barter
at the souk; take a desert safari; visit a
museum; “shop until you drop”; visit the
Katara cultural village; visit The Pearl; “hit
the beach”; visit the “Purple island”; take
a trip to the country’s first UNESCO
heritage site, Al Zubarah Fort.
Al Khater also promised that drinking
laws will be relaxed and the price of
alcohol would be made affordable.
“Qatar is a conservative country, it’s
a modest country, alcohol is not part of
our culture; however, hospitality is,” he
said, although how Qataris might react
to all-day drinking and potential rowdy
behaviour by football supporters – in
a country where being drunk is socially
unacceptable and where graffiti is
unheard of – might be another worry
for the organisers.
border is shut – not that it would be a
feasible option in any case, given the
difficulties of getting into neighbouring
Saudi Arabia.
Local organisers – the Supreme
Committee for the Delivery and Legacy- are adamant that Qatar will surprise
the world, just as Germany did in 2006.
Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of the
2022 World Cup, promised in a recent
interview with a group of reporters that
Qatar expected one million fans and
there would be plenty to keep them
occupied on non-match days.
“When their teams are not playing,
there is a lot of things they can do,” he
said, suggesting they could go to other
Luxury cars...a
common sight
Support...Qatar fansLine-up...Qatar (left) and Oman before their Asian Cup qualifier at Al Janoub Stadium in October