Your Ultimate Guide to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar

With less than a month before the FIFA World Cup 2022 kicks off in Qatar, the country is ready to accept fans and guests alike. Whether you are planning to watch a game live or catch it on TV, make sure you have all the right information regarding the tournament.

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If you are not supporting any teams, you can still join in the frenzy. Keep on reading this post to help you enjoy the football games.

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Photo Credit: Road to 2022 Facebook

 

What You Need to Know About the World Cup

In less than four weeks, the highly anticipated World Cup will begin in Doha. This is the first time a Middle East country has hosted this prestigious football tournament. And after years of preparation, history is about to unfold in Qatar.

The news outlet Al Jazeera shared useful information about the upcoming event. With so many activities to be held for the World Cup, you might find it hard to keep up. Let’s look at the essential details you need to know.

Tournament Schedule

The previous tournaments were usually set in June or July. But for this year, it will be held in November and December. These months coincide with the winter season in Qatar, where the temperature is ideal. It is a stark contrast to the temperature during summer, which occurs from June to July.

COVID Entry Requirements

According to the recent advisory, fans who fly to Qatar no longer need to show a vaccination certificate. However, they are required to install an app called Ehteraz for contact tracing. Fans should also present a negative COVID test result.

Hayya Card

It is both a fan ID and an entry permit to Qatar. The Hayya card contains personal information about the card holder and will need to be presented to the stadium where the fan will watch any game.

With your Hayya card, you can use public transport for free while the tournament is ongoing. And you can also stay in Qatar until January 23. This same card also serves as an entry visa for tourists who want to visit the UAE.

Stadiums

The matches will be held in 8 stadiums located throughout Doha. These are: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium, Education City Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Rayyan Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, and Lusail Stadium. Of these, the Lusail Stadium has the biggest capacity. It can accommodate up to 80,000 guests.

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Photo Credit: Road to 2022 Facebook

Game Format

There will be thirty-two teams participating in the tournament. They will compete in groups of four, starting November 20. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the next round. Those who make it to the finals will compete on December 18.

Here are the teams:

Group A – Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador, Qatar

Group B – England, USA, Iran, Wales

Group C – Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia

Group D – France, Denmark. Tunisia, Australia

Group E – Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica

Group F – Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, Canada

Group G – Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia, Cameroon

Group H – Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

Match Tickets

According to the FIFA World Cup website, the tickets are available during the sales phase. As of this writing, the sales phase is ongoing and will last until December 18, 2022. Organizers advise football fans to purchase their match tickets as soon as possible.

The FIFA Ticketing Centres in Doha are in the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center and at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena—ABHA Arena in Al Sadd. The ticketing centers open at 10 AM from Saturday to Thursday, while they open at 2 PM on Fridays. Follow this link to get directions and additional information about the centers.

Ticket prices range from QR 250 to QR 800 during the opening match. Meanwhile, the ticket prices during the final match can reach up to QR 2200 to QR 3650.

Accommodations

For fans and guests who will fly to Qatar to watch the tournament, they can choose to stay in hotels, apartments, fan villages, villas, or even on a cruise ship. The tournament organizers created an online accommodation portal in March 2022 to help guests find a place to stay. Fans who bought tickets have priority.

On the other hand, fans can stay in neighboring countries and arrange to travel to Doha during the match. Those who are staying in Saudi Arabia can go to the border and use a complimentary bus service to get to Doha.

Iran is also working on visa and travel restrictions to allow guests to stay in their country. The guests will then be able to travel to Qatar to watch the games.

Rules for Fans

The basic rules that fans must follow are:

  • no drinking in public
  • respect of the rules and customs of the host country.

Fans who wish to consume alcohol can do so in selected areas such as hotel bars and hospitality areas in the stadium. Even Qatar residents can consume alcohol if they have a special permit from their employers.

On the other hand, organizers remind everyone that public displays of affection are not encouraged in this country. But despite this restriction, fans of any gender, orientation, or religion are welcome in the country.

With these details, we hope that you can look forward to the football tournament. See you at the game!

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