If you go onto the Qatar 2022 World Cup website, you will be greeted by the claim that it is set to be “the most convenient Fifa World Cup ever”. This is true when it comes to travel – England fans will not have to worry about trips to Manaus or Kaliningrad like previous World Cups.
The two furthest stadiums are 43 miles away from each other while Doha and its surrounding area are well connected by metro and shuttle buses.
But everything else? Not so much.
Even the average cost of this tournament’s Panini sticker album has been estimated at £870.
Flights
The price of return flights from London Gatwick to Hamad International in Doha are currently quite consistent throughout the tournament.
If you were to fly out the day before England’s first game against Iran (1pm local time, 21 November) and return the day after their final group game against Wales (7pm local time, 29 November), direct flights are a hefty £893. This price is expected to rise between now and the tournament start.
An influx of English fans to Qatar is predicted if England make it through the group stage, as in Russia four years ago. Currently, flights from Gatwick to Doha ahead of last 16 and returning after the final are £838. This price will soar if Gareth Southgate’s men win their first couple of games convincingly.
More from Football
Inside Como's plans to 'replace Juventus', from signing Fabregas and Henry to doing a Leicester28 September, 2022
Richarlison and Brazil call for 'severe' punishment after banana thrown at Tottenham striker28 September, 2022
Bellingham is not just England's World Cup wildcard, he's the lifeblood of Southgate's team28 September, 2022Accommodation
The cheapest accommodation comes in at around £80 a night in a two-star new-build. It is located south-west of Al Wakrah city, where England will be based throughout the tournament.
Billed as for the “budget-conscious traveller”, this is the most basic accommodation by some distance and nearly £100 cheaper than anywhere else available. For your money, you get two single, steel-frame beds and a small bathroom without none of the usual amenities, in a decorative style that might be described as prison chic. Listings elsewhere suggest that bed linen and towels are not provided.
The next cheapest option is the more basic of the two cruise ships docked in Qatar. This will be £175 a night for bed and breakfast accommodation, although rooms are sold out for the dates of England’s group stage matches. Rooms on the more expensive ship are upwards of £350 a night.
Another option is pre-fabricated cabins, erected in designated “fan villages” in the desert. These are around £200 a night. The official website boasts that these cabins come equipped with a fridge, bed linen, bathroom towels and two bottles of water per day.
All but one of the officially listed hotels are fully booked. One-bedroom flats are being listed on Airbnb for up to £6,000 per night.
Cheaper accommodation is available in neighbouring countries, with the UAE particularly popular amongst England fans. Rooms in Dubai, the country’s most populous city, are available for closer to £100 per night. However, this comes with the added cost of return flights to Doha on matchdays, which are currently listed at £211.
Drinks
For all the discussion over when and where fans will be able to drink alcohol in Qatar, not much has been made of what these drinks will cost.
While alcohol is not illegal in Qatar, a no-tolerance policy exists throughout the Gulf nation. Being drunk in public is illegal. Due to heavy taxes on alcohol, a pint of beer will set fans back between £12 to £15 in fan zones, hotel bars and on the docked cruise ships. The best prices available will be £7 a pint, offered by some happy hour deals between 5pm and 7pm.
The largest fan area is the FanFestival at Al Bidda park, with a reported capacity of 40,000. This will sell solely Budweiser, Fifa’s official beer sponsor, between 6.30pm and around midnight, with prices not yet confirmed.
Fans of Glastonbury Festival will recognise Arcadia, the 50-tonne, fire-breathing spider-cum-rave-venue which will be flown out for the World Cup. This will reportedly serve alcohol from 10am-5am with a series of dance and house DJs set to play. Drinks prices within have not been announced, although entry will cost £75.
Bringing alcohol into the country is also a big no-no, with fines or deportation possible for those caught.
Tickets
Tickets have been split into four categories, with special rates for Qatari residents. For international fans, the cheapest tickets to group stage games are 250 Qatari Rial, or £64.22 (at current exchange rates…). These are the most expensive base prices of any World Cup tournament in history.
Knockout games will cost fans significantly more. The cheapest quarter-final tickets are close to £200, which goes up to £335 for semi-finals. Final tickets will set international fans back between £500 and £1500.
Tickets will also allow fans access to more than just football matches. A legitimate ticket is a pre-requisite to purchase a Hayya card, this tournament’s Golden Ticket, costing around £25.
From 1 November to 23 December, only Hayya card holders and official residents will be able to enter Qatar. As a result, flying out just to “soak up the atmosphere” will not be allowed. Standard processing time for a Hayya card is seven working days, meaning fans will either have to plan ahead or pay high processing fees if they want to spontaneously fly out to watch their nation.
More from Football
Inside Como's plans to 'replace Juventus', from signing Fabregas and Henry to doing a Leicester28 September, 2022Richarlison and Brazil call for 'severe' punishment after banana thrown at Tottenham striker28 September, 2022Bellingham is not just England's World Cup wildcard, he's the lifeblood of Southgate's team28 September, 2022Food
As in most places, food prices vary wildly in Qatar. Although prices have not been publicised, it is likely that food in fan zones and on the cruise ships will be inflated due to lack of other options.
Numbeo, the world’s largest cost of living database, estimates that a mid-range meal for two people will cost around £50, with a McDonalds meal costing around £6.50.
Total
As an England fan, following this World Cup “on the cheap” will not be an option. To fly out for England’s three group stage games and stay in Qatar throughout those 10 days, flights will cost £893 and the most basic accommodation another £800.
The cheapest tickets to those matches will cost £192.66, with a further £25 for a Hayya card. Adding in a conservative £50 a day for food and drinks, that takes the cheapest possible total for a fan attending England’s group games to £2,410.66.
That’s not very convenient.
from Football | News and analysis from the Premier League and beyond | iNews https://ift.tt/a1vd7yi
Post a Comment