Football Fans’ travel plan for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Qatar is a country with more than 2.7 million people, of which only 20% are Qatari, which allows the Arab country to be a stage for sharing cultures and traditions around football. That being the case, getting one of the matches to the matches is the main challenge for the millions of football fans who want to go to the 2022 World Cup.

In many cases, it is based on the luck of being one of the lucky ones whose applications were accepted by the organizing committee; in others, the knowledge and experience to know the best time and way to make the application.

A significant question arising in everyone’s mind is that,

is it safe to travel to Qatar?

Of course, it is a safe country to visit or live in. Its crime rates are meager, including violent crimes that are extremely rare, especially towards foreigners. However, another issue for tourists in Qatar is that homosexuality is also illegal and can be punishable by five years in prison. In addition, public displays of affection are also frowned upon.

The next thing coming to everyone’s mind is that,

Is it expensive to visit Qatar?

It would be great if you plan to spend around QAR633 or $174 per day on your vacation in Qatar, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. For example, past travelers have spent, on average, QAR179 or $49 on meals for one day and QAR67 or $19 on local transportation.

The last thought will be that,

Is food expensive in Doha?

In Doha, a typical fast food meal costs: 6.90 USD (25 QAR) for a McMeal at McDonald’s or BurgerKing (or similar combo meal), and 2.10 USD (7.50 QAR) for a cheeseburger. On the other hand, cigarettes are cheaper in Doha than in the United States. The average cost of a pack of local cigarettes is 5.30 USD (19 QAR).

For the millions of requests, in specific periods, FIFA opens ticket application processes through its website. For example, the first so-called ‘VISA Early Selling Phase’ took place between 22 and 31 October 2019 for customers of VISA cards, the official sponsor of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The second, called ‘Sale by Order of Application,’ began on 14 November and will end on 21 December, a process in which everyone can participate with any card as a means of payment.

Suspense and expectations:

From then on, the suspense and the expectation of being one of the winners of the draw of applicants begins. Subsequently, those who are accepted will receive their tickets electronically, and these must be printed before going to the stadiums.

According to FIFA, the tickets are divided into categories and phases of the World Cup, which establishes the price of the tickets. For example, in Russia 2018, a Category 1 match in the Round of 16 costs around $240, while the final cost $1,100.

If the budget doesn’t fit, fans can consider volunteering. By Qatar 2022, some 265,000 people have signed up for the program, of which 12,000 signed up in just four hours.

With tickets waiting to be accepted, fans can plan and save travel, lodging, food, and transportation.

Travel Agencies

Many travel agencies make tourist packages that include plane tickets, hotels, tours, and transportation to the stadiums. However, they do not have any power to offer in their packages tickets to the games.

On the other hand, the decision to travel can be discussed with a travel agency. And if the fan wants to do it on his own, the trip can reach the thousand 100 dollars, including both trips and with the purchase of a year in advance.

Football fans will watch up to two matches a day because the local metro is the fastest globally, and they can be at the farthest stadium in up to 45 minutes.

The challenge for lodging will be to find the perfect rate adapted to the comforts and needs, given that the prices of hotels on booking platforms could double or triple their regular price.

Qatar 2022 has been innovative and visionary within the stadiums, and communications plan in offering a unique experience to the fan since none of the venues are more than 35 kilometers from the center of Doha. Therefore, the most extended distance b/w the finalized stadiums will be fifty-five kilometers.

The most atypical World Cup will be marked by an unknown date and the customs that coexist within the country, some of them embodied in the official logo of the competition.

According to FIFA, the image represents

“striking elements of regional and local Arab culture,”

and its eight-shape figure represents the eight stadiums that will host the matches while at the same time emulating the desert dunes, the symbol of infinity, and the silhouette of the coveted golden trophy.

For its culture, ancient music, renowned cuisine, and traditions, Qatar has been chosen to host the next World Cup, share a little more of the Arab world in a country with the third-largest natural gas reserve globally, and is number one in per capita GDP.

Its stadiums will be the most attractive, with imposing infrastructures such as the towers that invade the city, constantly hit by sandstorms from dunes crossed by camels.

Three years to go before Qatar 2022, an event that will prove that football can be innovative, sustainable, visionary, and futuristic, capable of surprising in regulation or extra time, on the pitch or the sand.

Trip to Qatar on U.S. passport.

You will be highly excited to know that, when traveling on a U.S. tourist passport, the Government of Qatar does not require prior visa arrangements, and travelers may obtain a free visa waiver upon arrival, provided the traveler has six months validity in their passport and a return or onward ticket.

But Currently, entry to Qatar is only permitted to Qatari nationals, residents permit holders and GCC nationals.

Don’t wait anymore; take out your passport and pack your bags for Qatar to witness the most mesmerizing event of the decade.