Qatar Will Build Tents for Soccer Fans
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place in Qatar. The have been several controversies regarding both Qatar’s suitability as a host country and the selection process. People have been arrested, bribes have been uncovered, but nonetheless the biggest one-sport event in the world will be held place in Qatar.
For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup will not be played in summer, but in winter, from November 18 to December 21. Qatar’s summer temperatures average around 108 degrees and highs sometimes go over 120 degrees, making a summer tournament impossible.
But some of those lucky enough to get tickets to one of these games or those that just want to enjoy the World Cup atmosphere, will have to stay in tents. Qatar plans to pitch 1,000 “Bedouin style” tents in the desert for World Cup soccer fans. A total of 1.2 million visitors are expected, and that’s nearly half of Qatar’s population, for the 28-day tournament in November and December.
Tents will be set up in the desert surrounding Doha, to offer visitors an authentic taste of Qatari camping, said Omar Al-Jaber, head of accommodation at tournament organizer the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, as reported by Daily Star.
“We will give the opportunity for fans to live in a desert,” Al-Jaber said. 200 of these tents will be luxurious, commanding “expensive” nightly fees.
The tents are said to have pre-fabricated cabins, with some being advertised for a fee of around $200 per night. They will have have running water and power generators, but no air conditioning. Temperatures in November usually reach mid 80s during the day, but are in the 70s at night.
Qatar has had to boost its non-hotel accommodation and two cruise ships moored in Doha port and shared villas and apartments will provide at least 69,000 rooms, most of them to be managed by Accor. There are also plans to install pre-fabricated fan-villages on empty plots, Al-Jaber said.
“In total we have more than 100,000 rooms and still there are some new options,” he said, assuring there would be enough accommodation for everyone.
But lodging options, regardless of which one you choose, will definitely be expensive. Qatar’s official accommodation website on Tuesday offered two-bedroom apartments on the outskirts of Doha for $390 a night and a suite aboard a moored cruise ship for $1650 a night at the end of November.
More than 800,000 tickets for Qatar have already been sold during the opening sales phase which closed in March. A second round began on April 5 once the group stage draw was confirmed. There will be one final opportunity to get tickets just before the tournament starts.
The US is in Group B alongside England, Wales and Iran. Are you traveling to Qatar for the World Cup to support the USMNT? Let us know in the comments.
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