2.89mn tickets sold, 30,000 more rooms added for fans: Qatar 2022 preparations in final lap

At the press conference FIFA's World Cup Chief Operating Officer Colin Smith along with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Director General Eng. Yasir al-Jamal and Qatar 2022 Chief Executive Officer Nasser al-Khater provided an update on operations related to the tournament. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam

With just over a month to go for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, organisers sounded upbeat about the preparations for the football showpiece as they revealed the vast array of entertainment options being primed up for visitors and updated on operations related to the tournament. Hosts Qatar will kick-off the World Cup on November 20 at the Al Bayt Stadium against Ecuador and the ticket sales for the tournament – the first in the Middle East and Arab world – have been fast approaching the 3mn mark, the organisers said at a press conference Monday. Officials said 2.89 million tickets had been sold for the 64 matches to be staged in eight state-of-the-art stadiums across with a further 30,000 rooms made available to visitors.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was in Kuala Lumpur Monday attending the AFC meeting, praised Qatar in a video message for its preparation to host the World Cup. “We have always said that Qatar will deliver the best ever edition of the FIFA World Cup. And as you look around the country today, at the state-of-the-art stadiums, the training pitches, the metro, the wider infrastructure, everything is ready and everyone is welcome. The world is excited. Qatar is ready. The stage is set. Together, we will deliver the best World Cup ever on and off the field,” said Infantino. He added that the World Cup should be "a tournament of peace and unity – one that brings the world together after some difficult times.  The Swiss reiterated what the Qatari authorities have been saying for a long time. "And let me repeat it clearly, everyone will be welcomed to the tournament regardless of their origin, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality," Infantino said.

At the press conference Monday, FIFA's World Cup Chief Operating Officer Colin Smith along with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Director General Eng. Yasir al-Jamal and Qatar 2022 Chief Executive Officer Nasser al-Khater provided an update on operations related to the tournament. Smith said there was huge demand for tickets as he urged fans to keep checking FIFA.com/tickets for the latest inventory as more tickets continue to be released between now and the end of the tournament. From this week, ticket holders will receive an email with information on how to download the ticketing app and retrieve their mobile tickets. Smith said FIFA will launch a ticketing app – FIFA World Cup 2022 Tickets – where the users can access their tickets, change their information and send them to others with ease. The long-awaited counter sales of physical tickets will also begin today, at first of the two ticketing centres that will open in Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC). Infantino, meanwhile, said 240,000 hospitality packages had been sold for the month-long tournament, making it the "most successful hospitality program ever." Director General of Qatar's World Cup organising committee Yasir al-Jamal said two million room nights have been sold and that additional 30,000 rooms have been added to the inventory to accommodate last-minute ticket sales. The biggest variety of accommodation is available from the Qatar Accommodation Agency, where rooms can be booked from $80 per person, per night based on two-person occupancy. Accommodation options include hotels, apartments and fan villages. Al-Jamal also revealed more than 100,000 visitors have registered to stay with families and friends during the World Cup. Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser al-Khater provided details on exciting entertainment options prepared for visitors. The FIFA Fan Festival at Al Bidda Park will host up to 40,000 fans every day during the tournament. It will be free to attend and screen live matches, host globally-renowned artists and feature football activities. There will also be a range of local and international food and beverage options. In addition, the 6km Corniche Activation from Sheraton Park to the Museum of Islamic Art will feature roving performances, retail stores and food and beverage kiosks. Other activities will include the daily ‘Welcome to Qatar’ show – a water and pyrotechnics display that will feature music from the Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack, Qatari composer Wael Binali and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Theme park rides and other attractions at Al Maha Island Lusail will also be open to fans, as will the Ras Abu Aboud 974 Beach Club, the Hayya Fan Zone at Lusail South Promenade and the QetaiFAN Beach Fest. Dance music fans will flock to the 15,000-capacity Arcadia Spectacular and 5,000-capacity ARAVIA by MDL BEAST. In addition, Last-Mile Cultural Activations will feature more than 6,000 performances in 21 locations, entertaining fans on their way to stadiums. “Qatar is ready to host a global celebration of the beautiful game. We look forward to welcoming fans and players from across the world as they sample our welcoming hospitality, vast array of entertainment options and, of course, top-class international football. It promises to be a unique edition of the FIFA World Cup – and one that will leave a lasting, positive impact on Qatar, the Middle East and the Arab world,” al-Khater said. On the security arrangements during the World Cup, al-Khater said Qatar has signed agreements with several countries to contribute to policing and security arrangements. “We have set up an International Police Coordination Centre (IPCC). It is not a foreign concept. Many major international sporting events have a centralised policing unit working together. There will be fans from all over the world descending on Qatar during the World Cup and it makes sense to have policing units especially from those countries whose fans are coming here,” the Qatar 2022 CEO said. Meanwhile, FIFA World Cup CEO Colin Smith, replying to a query regarding unfair criticism on Qatar related to workers welfare, said the global football body believes in “dialogue over boycott.” “FIFA's been very clear on this point and over the years, we believe dialogue over boycott, we see the power and strength of the World Cup as a catalyst for change in the region. In Qatar we have been working hand in hand with the authorities over many years and worthwhile organizations have recognized the progress that has been made,” he said. “This is a World Cup for everyone, we are tremendously excited to welcome everyone from all nationalities here to come and celebrate the festival of football which brings the world together - that's the power of events like the FIFA World Cup which can do that. We therefore believe in positive dialogue and approach and in bringing people together. Let’s unify everyone here in Qatar in celebration in what's going to be an absolutely amazing event,” Smith added. Smith said Japan will be the first team to arrive in Qatar for the tournament on November 7. The World Cup CEO also said the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) will host the International Broadcast Centre and the Main Media Centre and will house 12,300 members of the media whether print, broadcast, online and radio. For the very first time in FIFA World Cup history there will be a virtual stadium for members of the media working from QNCC where they can have a total immersive match and stadium experience. “We operate over 168 official sites through the compact nature of Qatar, and each one of these sites is essential to the running and successful delivery of this World Cup. Way beyond testing the eight stadiums, the volunteers and accreditation centres are fully operational, with the ticketing centre at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre opening tomorrow and the International Broadcast Centre and Main Media Centre to follow. I can only reiterate FIFA’s confidence and deep appreciation for all the work preparing to deliver the best FIFA World Cup ever in just over one month's time,” said Smith.