Agencies_Gaza Post
Qatar will organize World Cup but not as we know it
Qatar has the World Cup final in November that will be unlike any other, and the logistical issues that organizers will face, from providing enough housing to coping with rowdy supporters, will only grow.
The Gulf state will host the first World Cup in the Middle East, as well as the first in a Muslim country, and no other event has ever taken place in the winter in the northern hemisphere.
Qatar, which is about the size of Jamaica, is also the smallest country to host soccer’s biggest event, with fans from all 32 participating countries expected to flock to eight stadiums centered around Doha, the only major city.
On the positive side, this means fans will be able to easily access all of the stadiums, allowing them to watch multiple matches in a single day, as opposed to recent championships in Russia and Brazil, where planes were frequently required to go to each venue city.
However, with 1.2 million spectators expected to visit Qatar over the course of the tournament’s 28 days, it will put a strain on the country’s restricted lodging market.
After inheriting the decision to allow Qatar to host the tournament from his scandal-plagued predecessor Sepp Blatter, FIFA president Gianni Infantino looked into the potential of other countries in the area to share hosting duties.
Source: HERE
