Ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are approaching three million as the countdown continues to the first edition of the tournament in the Middle East and Arab world, which will get underway at Al Bayt Stadium in just over a month’s time on 20 November.
“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,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino during a video message.
“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,” he added.
During a press conference in Doha, organizers of the tournament announced that 2.89 million tickets had been sold for the 64 matches to be staged in eight state-of-the-art stadiums. Demand has been highest among fans based in Qatar, the USA, Saudi Arabia, England, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, France, Brazil, and Germany.
The tournament has also achieved record-breaking hospitality ticket sales. Infantino, addressing the conference in a recorded video, said 240,000 hospitality packages had been sold for the month-long tournament, 63 percent of which were purchased by international clients, making it the “most successful hospitality programme ever,” he said.
Hospitality tickets, which allow access to luxurious stadium lounges, some with free-flowing drinks, cost more than $34,300 per person for semifinal matches and the final, according to the FIFA website.
Qatar, the smallest country to have hosted soccer’s global showpiece tournament, is preparing for an estimated 1.2 million visitors during the World Cup, the first to be held in a Middle Eastern country.
Thousands of fans are expected to stay in neighboring countries like the UAE and fly in to Doha for matches due to limited accommodation in Qatar.
Director General of Qatar’s World Cup organizing committee, Yasir Al Jamal, told the news conference that two million room nights had been sold and Qatar has added an additional 30,000 rooms to accommodate last-minute ticket sales. “This has been designed to ensure that all ticket holders have the best chance of securing accommodation,” Al Jamal said.
With most of the 31,000 or so hotel rooms in Qatar occupied by teams, their support staff and World Cup officials, organizers are offering fans accommodation in apartments, villas, fan villages, prefabricated metal cabins, desert tents and three cruise ships moored in the Doha port. The biggest variety of accommodation is available from the Qatar Accommodation Agency. Rooms can be booked from USD 80 per person, per night, based on two-person occupancy.
Tickets for all matches will continue to be released between now and the end of the tournament, with fans encouraged to keep checking FIFA.com/tickets for the latest inventory. From this week, ticket holders will receive an email with information on how to download the ticketing app and retrieve their mobile tickets.
Tournament organizers reminded fans to apply for the mandatory Hayya Card and book their accommodation as soon as possible. The Hayya Card will act as an entry permit for international fans. In addition, it will provide free public transport across the country and allow access to stadiums for fans with a valid match ticket.
Organizers also outlined the vast array of entertainment options that will be on offer to visitors during the tournament. 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, as well as pieces by Qatari composer Wael Binali and compositions performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dance music fans can dance the night away at the 15,000-capacity Arcadia Spectacular and 5,000-capacity ARAVIA by MDLBEAST. In addition, Last-Mile Cultural Activations will offer more than 6,000 performances in 21 locations, entertaining fans on their way to stadiums.