Wear it like Messi: meet the football fans making the most of Qatari culture

Where Lionel Messi treads others try to follow. His wearing of the traditional Arab bisht, however, was a step too far for some who felt it sullied the greatest moment in his footballing career.

That sentiment hasn't been shared by thousands of football fans who have remained in Qatar beyond the World Cup final. 

Many have stayed put because of flight schedules while others have chosen to spend more time in the country. 

Whatever the reason, there's been no shortage of foreigners getting up close and personal with Qatari culture. 

Last weekend I met a  group of four men in striped blue and white Arab clothes, the colour of their country’s national football shirt, with matching blue head scarves, walking in the Souq Waqif area. 

Onlookers stopped to take selfies with them. 

Behind them was another group clad in Croatia-themed clothes. Again people moved towards them to take their pictures. 

Dozens of fans have followed suit, soaking themselves in Arab culture during the FIFA World Cup 2022. 

The long-sleeved, ankle-length Arab robes known as 'thobes' caught the attention of foreign fans attending the World Cup. They donned them with a ‘ghutra’, the traditional Arabic head scarf, also known as ‘shemagh’ or ‘keffiyeh’, and the small woven ring, ‘igal’.

In fact, La’eeb, the World Cup 2022 mascot, symbolises the traditional ghutra and igal of the Gulf region. The mascot can be seen almost everywhere in the country in the form of posters, stickers, paintings, filters, and screensavers.

"La'eeb is a fun and mischievous character who comes from the mascot-verse, a parallel world where all tournament mascots live," notes FIFA. "La'eeb can be a figment of your imagination. He is whoever a football fan wants him to be," it adds.

Thobes and ghutras in 32 colours

The narrow pathways of Souq Waqif, the traditional market in the capital city, bustle with vendors retailing headscarves. 

They are widely available in the team colours of all the 32 nations playing in the tournament. The traders press and tuck them neatly, carefully fitting the scarf to the buyer’s head. Some do it in the cobra style, as worn by Qatari men, while others wrap it around the head like a turban.

The price of a white thobe ranges between QAR 80 (€21) and QAR 120 (€31) depending on its quality. 

“Thobes are in demand now. Foreign fans want them in their team colour. If they are made from cotton they cost more,” said Mohamed, a vendor.

The headscarves traditionally come in different colours and have a significant meaning associated with them. For instance, a white ghutra symbolises purity, a red and white checkered ghutra indicates patriotism, while a black and white ghutra represents freedom.

Visitors from England, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, and others have cheered on their national teams while donning Arab styles of clothing. While men have been parading in remodeled versions of traditional Arab thobes and headdresses, some women have been wearing hijabs.

“I wanted to try the local culture by wearing the traditional dress. It is nice to try new things in a new country,” says Carlos, a fan from Brazil, wearing a headdress with yellow, green, and blue with a matching green igal. 

“People, especially locals, are amused by my look. Many of them often stop me to take a selfie,” he adds.

"It’s an amazing gesture"

The nationals have welcomed fans with open arms to try their traditional dress in their preferred color and style. 

“It’s nice to see my culture adopted by them. They are wearing our traditional clothes and they’ll take our culture back home. Even if it’s for a week or two, it’s nice to see them in thobes. I like it,” says Abdullah Alkurbi.

Qatari citizens have been happy seeing how international fans are impressed with the Arab culture. They feel fans wearing the national dress is quite endearing. 

“I can see that fans are adoring our traditional clothing and enjoy our local food,” says Abdulla AlMesleh.

The hijab, the traditional headscarf, also became a trendy World Cup wear among non-Muslim female visitors. Various videos online show international fans wearing colorful headscarves. 

The headscarf is often depicted in Western media as a symbol of illiteracy, ignorance, and backwardness, and it remains to be seen whether fans wearing it will change this notion.

For now, Qatari women are happy that other women are trying their clothing. 

“Non-Muslim fans wearing hijab is an amazing gesture. It is a very different and positive thing,” says Aljazi Altlenzab.

"Respect the local culture"

The query regarding what to wear while in Qatar had created concern for female fans even long before the World Cup kicked off. Different fan groups on social media had advised visitors from wearing shorts and revealing clothes.

The Qatar tourism website had advised the visitors “to show respect for the local culture by avoiding excessively revealing clothes in public”, and recommended both men and women “to ensure their shoulders and knees are covered.”

“At first, it was portrayed as like you could not walk around sleeveless if you had tattoos and stuff like that. And it's nothing like that here,” says Ronaldo, a fan from North London.

A mix of tradition and modernity

There’s more to this peninsula than meets the eye, from swanky malls to pristine beaches to distinctive dunes.

“We saw Lusail Marina and Lusail City and were surprised. It is very beautiful, very modern,” says Gonzalo Olivares, a fan from Argentina.

While some like Pearl Island's colourful buildings and vibrant surroundings, others are smitten by the old feel of Souq Waqif. 

“I would really like to go to the Pearl again. It’s nice. It felt like you were in Venice. And the Souq is cool. Also, it’s kind of travelling in time a little bit. You can kind of see both ends of the spectrum, modern Qatar and the older Qatar,” says Rodrigo, who travelled all the way from Brazil to witness his third World Cup.

There are a few fans who haven’t had enough time to soak themselves in places other than stadiums. But most of them have not missed Souq Waqif, the traditional market in central Doha.

“I don’t think we’ve done much, but games. But, everyone’s very focused now, saying wherever you go you’ll be watching a game and you’ll have different fans there as well,” says Martin, who flew down from Sydney, Australia, and managed to watch 20 matches in 15 days.

Arab cuisine

Hundreds of fans packed into Lebanese, Persian, Yemeni, Egyptian, and Moroccan restaurants to taste Arabic food in the city. 

“We tried so many amazing Lebanese dishes and things like that. The cuisine was incredible and surprising. I want to continue to explore more and more Armenian and other types of cuisine within the region,” added Rodrigo.

Echoing her joy in being able to visit Qatar to witness the World Cup, Sophia from Brasilia praised the diversity she has been seeing during her stay in Qatar.

“The people here are very kind. I really enjoy Arabic bread with hummus and baba ghanoush. I will take some baklava back home for my family and friends,” Sophia adds.

Impressed by the development

Several fans say they have great respect for the Arab culture and have found love and respect in the peninsula. They are surprised to see the development in such a short span of time. 

“It’s really impressive that they were able to build this in such a short amount of time. We could take some lessons like this back home to try to, invest a little bit in infrastructure and make things a little bit easier for things back at home,” feels Rodrigo.

Many fans came with an open mind and are happy about their visit. 

“I didn't really take what the media had to say about the place. I'm very happy with the experience so far. I haven't heard anything bad from any of the fans either,” says Martin.

(Source: Euro News)

World Cup football fever spreads among 'real deal' Indian fans in Qatar and beyond

World Cup: No, Indian fans who marched in Doha are not fake

It’s Friday, and it’s the weekend. Everyone has a big smile on their face as they sing and dance. Little children sitting on their fathers’ shoulders wave their hands with glee. Thousands of Indians, especially from the southern state of Kerala, descended on the Corniche to take part in the parade supporting football teams.

Wearing their favourite side's shirts, they beat drums and blew horns. They raised slogans and carried flags of their beloved teams from the Flag Plaza to the Countdown Clock Qatar's capital city.

Tito K. Sidharthan, who was on the Corniche with his family, sums up the feeling of everyone who participated in the march. “It was just awesome. There were thousands of supporters like me, and I feel so happy to be a part of the parade. I would never miss a chance to show my love and support for Brazil.”

‘Qatar is like a second home’

Several journalists and commentators on social media have questioned if the Indians were “real fans”. They were even accused of being paid to wear the shirts of Brazil, Argentina, and England to promote the tournament. However, supporters who participated in the rally strongly denied all the allegations levelled against them.

“The claims are totally false and motivated. Since childhood, I’ve supported Argentina. Even if I was elsewhere, I would have joined the march to back Messi’s team,” says Brijesh K. Das, who has been living in Qatar since 2002.

“Qatar is like a second home to me. I even participated in the parade at Lusail Boulevard to support the national team,” he adds.

Allegations denied

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy also rejected the allegations and issued a statement backing the contribution of these fans. It pointed out that there are several football fans in the country sharing emotional connections with various nations.

“In different places around the world, fans have different traditions, different ways to celebrate, and while that may contrast with what people are used to in Europe or South America, it doesn’t mean the passion for football is any less authentic,” the statement says.

Top buyers of tickets

The small peninsula is home to more than 750,000 Indians in the country’s population of 2.9 million. Qatar residents have been one of the top buyers of tickets purchased for the World Cup. Most of the tickets priced at €10.60 were grabbed by resident Indians. According to FIFA, Qatar alone has purchased 947,846 tickets for the tournament. Many Keralites have travelled to Qatar to watch the matches live.

Mohammed Rishwan K.S., an entrepreneur from Palakkad, bought tickets three months ago and has waited for the remarkable event ever since. He is among several fans in the state who are ardent football followers, even though the India team is 106th in FIFA’s ranking.

“I have watched three matches so far. All the eight stadiums are located within a 50-52 km radius of Doha and are easy to reach,” Rishwan says. He would have loved to stay back to watch more matches had he not “got some important commitments back home”, he adds.

Brazil weds Argentina

Many streets of Kerala are now decked up with cut-outs, posters, and banners of every team. Houses, cars, and even auto rickshaws are painted in the colours of Brazil and Argentina. Fans get together to cheer the teams and sing anthems.

The craze is so high before every World Cup that half of the state supports Brazil while the other half backs Argentina.

This season also saw a musical tribute to the World Cup. Malayalam actor Mohanlal in collaboration with director T.K. Rajeev Kumar released a video, which throws light on the state's love for the sport.

But this love affair is nothing new. Back in 2018 as football fans headed to Russia, World Cup fever gripped the country, and one couple took their obsession a step further by choosing a football theme for their wedding. 

As a supporter of Argentina, Jobin from Thrissur married Irene at a wedding hall decorated with balloons, festoons, bunting, and banners in blue and white. 

The wedding cake resembled the Argentinian flag, and guests were served by staff wearing Argentina jerseys.

Cut-out frenzy

A cut-out war began in the state when Argentinian fans installed a nine-metre-tall cut-out of Messi on a small islet in Kurungattu Kadavu river in Pullavoor village in Kozhikode district. As a response, the rival Brazil fans set up a 12-metre-high image of Neymar Jr on the banks of the river. 

Later, both were overshadowed by a 14-metre-tall model of Cristiano Ronaldo in his Portugal jersey. The cut-out war went viral and was tweeted by the FIFA official handle, “#FIFAWorldCup fever has hit Kerala”.

The cutout frenzy has its critics too. “Almost every main road and side street have tall cut-outs of the football stars. This has extended to the rivers too as every football fan club is on a thinking spree to outwit and overdo what its rival does. I wonder how we would be disposing of all the accumulated garbage once this frenzy is over,” Hariharan S., a visual artist from Palakkad said.

Sadly, the rivalry erupted into violence. Police made several arrests for unruly behaviour during rallies. There was also a clash between supporters of Argentina and Brazil during a parade in Kollam just before the start of the World Cup. 

Videos on Twitter show the supporters of both teams beating each other with flags, sticks, and iron pipes.

Fans buy house to watch football

A group of 17 football fans from the small village of Mundakkamugal in the Kochi district purchased a house for €27,000 to watch the World Cup games with friends. The group includes supporters of Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and France. They decorated the house with the flags of the 32 participating teams and adorned the walls with portraits of Messi and Neymar.

According to India's national news agency, ANI, Shafeer P.A., one of the buyers, said they "will make arrangements for visitors of all generations to come here and enjoy the game together”. They have been celebrating every match for the past 15 years and want to continue.

It is not unusual for Kerala and its people to cling to the World Cup every season. The state in the cricket-crazy country is so obsessed with the game that even the government announced ‘One Million Goals’, a scheme to train school children in football.

(Source: Euro News)

The rich history of Fifa World Cup trophy

The biggest prize in football went through an incredible journey that included war, thefts, and a heroic dog.

The Fifa World Cup has a rich history that is as riveting as the many contests it has witnessed. Amid all the bravery, heartbreak, and jubilation, the World Cup trophy itself has a fascinating story to tell.

The most iconic trophy in all sports that is instantly recognized all across the globe has lived a tumultuous existence. In fact, the trophy itself is not even 50 years old, even though the World Cup was first played in 1930.

The World Cup trophy in display during the Fifa Congress in Doha. AFP

To know more about the trophy, we need to go all the back to the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay.

Jules Rimet Trophy (1930-1970)

The first football World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 and was made possible due to the efforts of Jules Rimet.

Rimet was the third president of Fifa and was instrumental in making the dream of a World Cup a reality. The trophy was created by French sculptor Abel Lafleur, 35cm in height and weighing 3.8kg. It was constructed with gold-plated sterling silver.

The trophy design featured a gold statuette of Nike - the Greek goddess of victory. Originally, the trophy was simply called 'Victory', and more popularly as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde.

In 1946, it was renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in honor of the president. That the trophy survived was a miracle in itself. During World War II, the trophy was held by 1938 champions Italy. Italian vice-president of Fifa, Ottorino Barassi, took it upon himself to ensure the safety of the trophy, secretly removing it from the vault of a bank in Rome and hiding it in a shoebox under his bed during the entirety of the war.

Trophy stolen

Just four months before the 1966 World Cup in England, the trophy was stolen while on exhibition at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. Law enforcement agencies, including Scotland Yard, tried their best to recover the item but to no avail. One week after the theft, the trophy was randomly found wrapped in the newspaper lying next to a parked car by a dog named Pickles who was out on a walk with his owner.

Pickles became a national hero and received a medal and reward for the discovery. Thanks to the heroic canine, England captain Bobby Moore got to lift the original Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley Stadium after defeating West Germany in the final.

Trophy stolen again

Brazil won the World Cup for the third time in 1970 and was awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently, as was the rule at the time. However, the original trophy was stolen for a second time in 1983 from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro and was never recovered.

Fifa World Cup Trophy (1974 - present)

After Brazil won the trophy permanently, a replacement was commissioned for the 1974 World Cup. Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga's submission was accepted. The trophy design sees human figures spiral up toward a golden replica of the world. The trophy is hollow on the inside.

Following the debacle involving the Jules Rimet Trophy, it was decided that the original Fifa World Cup trophy can't be won outright anymore.

It remains in Fifa's possession at its Zurich headquarters and is taken out only for trophy tours, World Cup main draws, and the final presentation. Winners of each World Cup are handed a gold-plated bronze replica, known as the World Cup Winners’ Trophy. They get to keep the replica.

How much does the World Cup trophy weigh?

The Fifa World Cup trophy is 6.175kg of 18-carat gold. It stands 36.5cm tall and has a circular base that is 13cm in diameter.

How much is it worth?

The value of the gold in the World Cup trophy itself is worth $250,000, according to current gold rates. Four years back, the original Fifa World Cup trophy was said to be worth $20 million according to some estimates, making it easily the most valuable trophy in sport.

Given the exponential growth in the sports memorabilia market after the pandemic, that value would have easily gone up by many multiples. The famous jersey worn by Argentine Diego Maradona when he scored the 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup was sold for $7.1 million in an auction earlier this year. 

(Source: The National)

Messi says World Cup 2022 in Qatar will be his last

Argentina captain Lionel Messi said yesterday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will “surely” be the last of his career. “It’s my last World Cup, surely. I feel good physically, I was able to do a very good pre-season this year, which I couldn’t do last year. It was essential to get to where I am, with a good state of mind and a lot of hope,” the 35-year-old told ESPN Argentina.

Messi, who is due to appear in his fifth World Cup, made his international debut in 2005 and has since won 164 caps for Argentina and is the country’s all-time record scorer with 90 goals. 

In the interview, which took place in Paris where Messi plays for Paris Saint-Germain, he admitted he was nervous about the impending tournament in Qatar. “There is anxiety, nerves about the World Cup,” he said. 

“We can’t wait for it to start.” 

Messi’s international debut as a substitute against Hungary in 2005 lasted just two minutes before he was sent off but he quickly established himself in the national team set-up and travelled to Germany for his first World Cup in 2006. 

He went on to play in the 2010 edition in South Africa, in 2014 in Brazil, where Argentina reached the final, and in 2018 in Russia.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi will be playing his fifth World Cup in Qatar. - AFP

 
The current side, under the management of Lionel Scaloni, has now gone 35 games without defeat and is likely to figure as one of the pre-tournament favourites for the Qatar tournament. 

“We have reached a good moment, with a very well-equipped and very strong group, but anything can happen,” said Messi. 

“All the games are very difficult. The favourites are not always the ones who end up winning or taking the path that one expected. Argentina is always a candidate because of its history and what it means. But we are not the only favourites, there are other teams that are above us.” 

Messi believes his team has a good chance of winning the tournament. “In a World Cup, anything can happen. All the matches are very tough. The favourites don’t always end up winning,” Messi said. 

“I don’t know if we’re the favourites, but Argentina is always a candidate because of its history. Now even more so because of the moment, we’re in, but we are not the favourites. I think there are other teams that are above us.”

I have been playing with the national team for a long time now,” Messi said. 

“There have been spectacular moments, like in 2014, 2015 and 2016 but we didn’t win and were criticised for not being champions. We did everything right until the finals.”

Messi said he was heading to Qatar with a positive outlook as the elder statesman in a team full of young talent who ended Argentina’s 28-year wait for an international trophy with their Copa America victory. 

“It’s been very hard, but in 2019 a new group with many young people came and won the Copa America. That helped us a lot,” he added.

Argentina faces the United Arab Emirates in their final warm-up match in November before playing Saudi Arabia in their opening Group C game at the World Cup on November 22. Mexico and Poland are the other teams in the group. 

Meanwhile, PSG coach Christophe Galtier allayed fears about a possible injury to Messi on Wednesday, saying the Argentine forward had asked to be substituted due to tiredness late in their 1-1 Champions League draw with Benfica.

Messi, who put PSG ahead in the 22nd minute before Benfica drew level through Danilo Pereira’s own goal, was replaced by Pablo Sarabia in the 81st minute. “He gestured saying he wanted to be substituted,” Galtier said. 

“After making a sprint, he felt tired. He came off because he felt tired and a fresh teammate was much better at that moment in the game.”

(Source: Gulf Times)

Qatar World Cup 2022: Champions will take home $42 million prize money

A look at how much the top teams will earn during the finals, including preparation fees

The Fifa World Cup is undoubtedly the biggest sporting event on the planet. Nations from all continents fight tooth and nail to just gain the right to participate in the quadrennial event.

The 2018 tournament attracted a combined global viewership of 3.572 billion viewers – that is half the planet's population. According to Fifa, the final between France and Croatia alone attracted a combined global audience of 1.12 billion.

This year, 32 teams will once again fight for the ultimate prize. The venue is Qatar – the first time the finals has been staged in the Middle East.

Hosts Qatar will kick off the tournament at the Al Bayt Stadium on November 20 against Ecuador, with the final on December 18.

Stadiums

A total of eight venues will host matches during the finals. All venues have air conditioning systems, allowing fans and spectators to enjoy the proceedings in comfort. The venues are Lusail Stadium, Stadium 974, Al Thumama Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Education City Stadium, and the Al Janoub Stadium.

Tournament duration

A total of 64 games will be played to decide the winners on December 18. This will be the last edition to involve 32 teams. The next World Cup in 2026 - to be held in United States, Mexico, and Canada – will see 48 teams participating.

Prize money

Fifa has set aside a total prize pool of $440 million for the World Cup 2022. The breakdown is as follows:

Champions: $42 million

Runners-up: $30 million

Third place: $27 million

Fourth place: $25 million

Fifth-eighth place: $68 million ($17 million per team)

Ninth-16th place: $104 million ($13 million per team)

17th-32nd place: $144 million ($9 million per team)

In addition, each team that has qualified will receive $1.5m ahead of the competition to cover preparation costs. In the 2018 edition, winners France took home a cheque of $38m.

(Source: The National) 

Abu Samra border crossing expanded to 24 vehicle lanes

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani visited the Abu Samra border crossing to check the arrangements put in place to facilitate fans' travel during the World Cup. 

The PM also inspected the recent expansion and development of facilities as well as the reception halls and equipment, designed and built with the latest technologies, to facilitate the process of receiving the tournament’s fans, the country’s guests, and visitors.

The PM was also briefed on the border crossing’s absorptive capacity and the working mechanism, in addition to the advanced services and protection systems used. He was also updated on security and safety procedures, and equipment to facilitate the arrival of fans for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by a number of Their Excellencies' senior officials in the security sector and the facilitators of the Abu Samra border crossing expansion project. 

On this occasion, Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), said: “The port expansion works will serve travelers to and from Qatar with more than double the previous capacity by increasing the number of passenger vehicle service lanes from 9 to 24 lanes.”

He noted that internal air-conditioning systems have been added to the buildings of the customs inspection platforms for trucks and vehicles. 

Lt. Col. Muhammad Sultan Al Mannai, Vice-Chairman of the Permanent Committee for the Management of Abu Samra Border Port, said the port's development will contribute to facilitating travellers’ procedures and completing them smoothly and in a shorter time.

Works implemented within the Abu Samra Border Crossing project include developing the passports buildings to serve arrivals and departures, with an increased capacity from nine to 24 vehicles at the same time. Customs buildings for arrivals have also been developed from 28 to 36 vehicles.

As part of what has been implemented to serve the World Cup, a passenger hall has been constructed covering 10,000 square meters and has a capacity to serve 2,000 visitors per hour for arrivals and 2,000 visitors per hour for departures. Also, 44 passports and 22 customs inspection platforms will serve the fans coming to Qatar and provide them with comfort and safety. Temporary parking lots were also established to raise the capacity of the tournament fans’ parking spaces from 1,400 to 4,500, with the installation of a parking reservation system. 

The project includes 48 tourist tracks to serve 12,000 cars entering and leaving Qatar, in addition to road development works with a length of 4.5 km. 

Infrastructure development works included the development of sewage networks with a length of 1.3 km, and rainwater drainage networks with a length of 2.5 km. The project also included the implementation of 2 square kilometers of green spaces and beautification works for four roundabouts.

Security systems equipped with the latest technologies and the highest international standards have been installed at the port. The works also included renovating and adding a new security fence. 

Three separate lanes will be allocated for trucks only, in addition to providing truck parking lots serving 500 trucks with a total area covering 150,000 square meters.  Commercial truck inspection platforms have also been sealed and air-conditioned.

(Source: The Peninsula)

Qatar World Cup 2022: Where are all the teams staying?

Fans visiting the country could rub shoulders with some of the two dozen teams staying within 10km of each other

Boutique accommodations, universities, and luxury hotels await the 32 World Cup teams heading to Qatar to compete in one of the world's largest sporting events next month.

Twenty-four of these teams will be staying within 10km of Doha, providing fans with the opportunity to do some serious star spotting.

Qatar, Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel. Photo: The Torch Hospitality

New hotels have been opening under a soft-launch phase to prepare for the arrival of some of the most expensive footballers on the planet with tastes to match.

While each base camp reserved for national teams may differ, the one thing they have in common is five-star luxury served alongside some of the best training grounds possible.

Each team will have access to their own World Cup training facilities close to their hotel - referred to as each nation’s Team Base Camp (TBC) according to the organizing committee.

Each nation was given a variety of hotel options, with a first come, first served rule in effect if more than one country wanted the same venue.

Of the 32 teams, 24 will be staying close to Doha, while eight others, including England, Germany, Belgium, and Portugal, have preferred to stay further away from the frenzy of the center.

Group by group, these are the hotels that national teams will be calling home next month.

GROUP - A

Qatar - Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel

This opulent hotel backs onto the green spaces of the Aspire Park, and could easily be mistaken for a French chateau or country estate in middle England.

The property is fitting as an escape for the hosts to prepare in sumptuous surroundings with 139 rooms, a fully equipped gym, outdoor and indoor pools, and a spa.

Netherlands - St Regis, Doha

The classy Dutch will have to live up to their billing as one of the World Cup’s dark horses with an impressive recent run of form.

Their hotel matches the class of the Dutch teams of the past, with 335 rooms and an Olympic-sized swimming pool in which players can relax weary legs.

A new steakhouse, the Astor Grill, opened recently, while a huge selection of restaurants can be found at the nearby Al Gassar Resort.

Senegal – Duhail Handball Sports Hall

Less salubrious surroundings await Senegal, who have been allocated a sports hall from which to make their World Cup preparations.

The Duhail Handball Sports Hall opened in 2014 ahead of the World Men’s Handball championships a year later.

The Olympic standard venue sits alongside the adjacent Al Tarfa and Duhail districts.

Ecuador – Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha

‘La Tri’ will be staying close to Hamad International Airport at the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha for the duration of their stay in the tournament.

The hotel is home to a variety of dining options, with Chinese restaurant Chi’Zen and Spanish-themed The Cellar sure to be popular choices for team staff.

The hotel has 400 rooms, 12 suits, a jacuzzi, a gym, and an outdoor pool.

GROUP - B 

England – Souq Al Wakra Hotel Qatar

This hotel by Tivoli sits next to the souq in Al Wakrah, around a 25-minute journey from the center of Doha.

Manager Gareth Southgate and the English FA took the decision to base the squad further out of Doha, to focus on the challenge ahead.

This boutique hotel has all the Arabic flair you would expect with stunning sea views and an all-day Mediterranean-style restaurant - Jarnen.

Iran – AlRayyan Hotel Doha, Curio Collection by Hilton

With direct access to the Mall of Qatar, this hotel is the perfect spot for players who may want to pick up souvenirs during their stay in Doha.

It also has an outdoor pool and gym to keep the squad in top condition for the difficult games ahead.

USA – Marsa Malaz Kempinski

The American national team will be based in the heart of The Pearl - Qatar, a man-made island home to a long list of luxury hotels.

The Kempinski hotel the likes of US and Chelsea star Christian Pulisic will call home for the World Cup has a number of high-end restaurants, including Spanish eatery El Faro, Toro Toro, and a sports bar.

Wales – Delta Hotels City Center Doha

The Dragons will be staying at one of the new hotels in Doha that is due to open this month.

Located in the heart of West Bay, close to the cruise ships where many supporters will be staying, the 32-storey hotel is likely to be a popular venue for fans with a number of food and beverage outlets.

GROUP - C

Argentina – Qatar University Hostel 1

One of the tournament favorites, Argentina, will be staying in more modest surroundings when compared to their tournament rivals.

The Qatar University campus in Education City may not offer all the tourist trappings of West Bay and The Pearl, but a quieter base could be just the preparation Lionel Messi and co may need to secure their third FIFA World Cup.

Poland – Ezdan Palace Hotel

Robert Lewandowski and his teammates will be staying at this Andalusian-themed luxury hotel in Al Duhail South.

A huge leisure pool or hotel spa will be the perfect spot to unwind and prepare for games as the Poles aim to qualify from the group stage for the first time since 1982.

Saudi Arabia – Sealine Beach, a Murwab Resort

Another team looking for quieter surroundings is Qatar’s neighbor Saudi Arabia.

Staying 45 minutes outside of Doha at the Murwab Resort, players will enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the 58 private villas within the hotel grounds.

Mexico – Simaisma, a Murwab Resort

The tournament’s second ‘El Tri’, Mexico has also chosen a Murwab Resort as a World Cup base camp.

Slightly closer to Doha at around 25 minutes, the Mexican players will also enjoy the luxury solace of the resort’s 52 villas, complete with a private terrace and pool.

GROUP - D

France – Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

The holders may be beset with their traditional struggles of controversy and discontent in the build-up to the tournament, but France can put all that aside once settled into an oasis of calm at Al Messila by Marriott Bonvoy.

A huge spa across 14,000 square meters will be the perfect spot to rejuvenate, while a walk through the hotel’s indigenous-scented gardens could provide the perfect recovery tonic between games.

Tunisia – Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach

Close to Doha Mall and the DECC metro station, this 278-room hotel will be home to the Tunisian national side during the tournament.

The hotel has a big gym, and spa with a jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and outdoor pool.

Australia – New Aspire Academy Athlete Accommodation

Like Argentina and Senegal, Australia has decided to stay in purpose-built accommodations for athletes rather than the glitzy hotels of central Doha.

The more modest surrounding of the Aspire Zone will be the base for Australia for the tournament, but it could be a brief stay as the Socceroos have been drawn into one of the more difficult groups.

Denmark – Retaj Salwa Resort & Spa

The Retaj Salwa Resort lies on the gateway to Qatar on the Salwa Road and is a 30-minute drive into central Doha.

The hotel has 168 rooms and villas, as well as a choice of four restaurants for guests, including the seafood eatery Fishkoza.

GROUP - E

Spain – Qatar University Hostel 2

Like Argentina, the Spain football team will be staying at Qatar University in Education City.

Japan – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha

The Japan team will be staying at one of Doha’s oldest and most well-established hotels.

It offers plenty of places to recharge and unwind with more than 20 restaurants and bars making it a likely hotspot for fans.

Costa Rica – dusitD2 Salwa Doha

Just 20 minutes from Doha city center, the five-start D2 Salwa will be home to Costa Rica during the World Cup.

The hotel has plenty of eateries, including the popular Lemon Garden.

Germany – Zulal Wellness Resort

Like England, Germany has preferred to stay out of town away from the madding crowds.

Zulal opened in November 2021 and is Qatar’s largest wellness resort.

GROUP - F

Belgium – Hilton Salwa Beach Resort

Belgium will be hoping to emerge from another difficult group and make one of the stronger European challenges for the trophy.

A 3.5km private beach at the Hilton Salwa will offer the perfect spot for downtime for players between matches.

Canada – Century Marina Hotel Lusail

Canada could prove to be another surprise hit during the World Cup after an impressive qualifying campaign and will be staying in Qatar’s newest city - Lusail.

The Century Marina is in the heart of the city, a short walk from the National Museum.

Morocco – Wyndham Doha West Bay

With four swimming pools and a location close to central Doha, the second Wyndham hotel in the city will host Morocco.

The hotel has easy access to The Gate Mall and is a little further away from the beach than the city’s other Wyndham hotel.

Croatia – Hilton Doha

Croatia is one of 24 teams staying within close proximity of each other in West Bay.

As the runners-up in Russia 2018, this could be the last hurrah for some of Croatia’s vaunted stars such as Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic.

The hotel is also home to a Trader Vic’s and Shots sports bar so sure to be popular with World Cup fans.

GROUP - G

Brazil – The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa

The boys from Brazil are hot favorites to win the 2022 World Cup and for good reason.

The Westin Doha will be their home, probably until the tournament’s latter stages and well into December.

Players can relax and unwind at the hotels stunning outdoor pool or Heavenly Spa.

Cameroon – Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb

Team staff and hotel guests who choose to eat at the Thai restaurant Saffron will be treated to spectacular views.

Players can also unwind at the hotel’s Banyan Tree Spa, catch a film at the nearby Vox cinema, or visit the Quest indoor theme park.

Serbia – Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha

This is another new hotel built just in time for the start of the World Cup and the imminent arrival of Serbia.

The Rixos sits on the site of Doha’s first five-star hotel and is an all-inclusive destination for guests.

Switzerland – Le Royal Méridien Doha

This hotel is in Lusail and recently opened its doors in June and is connected to another new venue, the glittering Place Vendome mall which opened in April.

The 377-room hotel is the first from the European-born brand in Qatar and is inspired by the 1960s glamour of the French Riviera.

The hotel is inspired by the country’s pearl diving history, with chandeliers representing mother-of-pearl shells, and coral reef art on the walls of the lobby.

GROUP - H

Portugal – Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel

The Qatar World Cup is likely to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance for glory, and he is surrounded by stars in the national team who will be staying at the Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel.

This is another new hotel due to open this month with 60 rooms, and 27 villas, and is close to the FBQ Museum.

South Korea – Le Méridien City Centre, Doha

Home to the South Korea Football team the Le Méridien City Center is close to the Delta Hotel where the Welsh will be staying.

Once open, the hotel will have 353 rooms, and six restaurants and bars, including the Mediterranean restaurant KAZA.

Ghana – DoubleTree by Hilton Doha, Al Sadd

The African stars will be staying close to the home of Qatar’s best football team - Al Sadd.

Players staying there can visit the Nashville-inspired bar Broadway Brasserie, the pan-Asian spot Indo-Chin, and the casual bar StrEAT Culture.

Uruguay – Pullman Doha West Bay

The Pullman Doha is yet another new hotel built especially for the World Cup.

It will be home to the Uruguay national team, a side that traditionally punches well above its weight at World Cups.

Also located in West Bay, the 47-storey hotel has 375 hotel rooms, 93 apartments, and a 24-hour gym and a spa.

(Source: The National)