The 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium, where the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar final will take place, is expected to be at full capacity.
Photo via Shutterstock
Just weeks before more than a million football enthusiasts are expected to arrive in Qatar for the month-long World Cup tournament, the host country announced it had eased its COVID-19 restrictions to the maximum.
Qatar’s Ministry of Health has announced that, as of November 1, COVID-19 PCR verification effects or immediate antigen checks will not be required for those traveling to the country, regardless of vaccination status. The ministry also removed the requirement to register with the country. Ehteraz contract search app (except for those who will enter fitness services while in Qatar). Travelers who test positive in Qatar will be required to self-isolate for seven days.
Public fitness experts have said the World Cup, which runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, will be the largest mass gathering of spectators since the pandemic began. Qatar is expected to receive 1. 2 million foreign visitors during the tournament, less than a fraction of the 3. 03 million spectators who attended the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Observers note that the decline in influx is partly due to the country’s much smaller size. And since the coronavirus policy update came less than a month before the first game, it’s imaginable that stricter regulations deterred potential attendees.
About a million non-residents are expected to arrive in the small Arabian Gulf state, which is smaller than Connecticut, at h8 of the games. During the World Cup, 32 foreign football teams will play 64 matches in 8 stadiums in and around Doha.
Even with fewer participants than on previous World Cup tours, there will be restrictions on Qatar’s tourism infrastructure. With limited places to stay in the host country: the total number of hotel rooms in Qatar is only around 29,000: 3 mega cruise ships will be stationed at the port offering more accommodation, adding MSC World Europa, which carries its rite of call in Doha on November 13 and will make its maiden voyage after the games end. Other participants will travel from neighboring states, such as Dubai. FlyDubai, a cheap airline, plans to have up to 30 round-trip flights from Dubai to Qatar for the World Cup (that’s a 45-minute flight).
Stadiums for the 2022 World Cup will be filled with seating with no COVID restrictions around social distancing or capacity limits – around 3 million tickets have been put on sale for the entire tournament. Just 16 months ago, the European Championship football tournament took position across the continent, with some stadiums only 25% advanced due to local COVID-19 rules.
Fans coming to Qatar, adding on the Ministry of Health’s website, have been invited to purchase up-to-date insurance and COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs where we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. © 2022 AFAR Media