Qatar 2022: the nightmare to get a beer at the World Cup

More than an hour of waiting and a lot of enthusiasm. This is how the hundreds of fans who crowded into the only beer stall that will officially sell in this World Cup lived, outside the luxury hotels and restaurants of some hotels.

In the first half hour of the sale, which kicked off promptly at 7 p.m. local time, a human tide of fans came out happily with their plastic cups of beer. The Qatari authorities, after tough negotiations with FIFA and one of its official sponsors, resolved that this Saturday, at the opening of the Fan Fest located in Bidda Park, alcohol can be dispensed, but with a limit of four units per transaction.

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At the end of the queue, the beer buyers came out excited and gave interviews as if they were the real protagonists of this World Cup. Among the first to leave were the Argentines. Agustina and Fernanda are from Córdoba capital and arrived in Doha yesterday. “They opened the sale at 7 in the afternoon and we had to wait in line for an hour,” they tell LA NACION. “They let us buy four each, so here we are with eight in our hands to enjoy a little more,” they say with a laugh.

The price of each half-liter beer is 50 Qatari riyals, about 6,000 Argentine pesos at the blue exchange rate. “They are a bit expensive compared to Córdoba, but we came here to enjoy”, they add. The eight beers that they carry in their hands cost them close to 50,000 Argentine pesos.

Miguel, Gabriela and Andrés are Mexican, from Monterrey. His compatriots are at the top along with Argentines among beer consumers on this first day of the Fan Fest. They say that the price, around 15 dollars, “is good for festivals” although they consider that for them “it’s cute”.

Tamid is from Egypt and told LA NACION that he has been working in these positions for a week. He points out that the directives were clear: sell fast, avoid overflows and do not exceed the limit per transaction. Surrounding the perimeter of the beer stand, which is accessed through a winding path of fences, there are dozens of police and security personnel, ready to act in case of any incident. On the first night, they were noticed a little more attentive than usual, but always in their friendly and calm tone.

trademark party

Minutes after 4 in the afternoon, Qatar time, the place that became the true meeting point outside the World Cup stadiums opened its doors. The FIFA Fan Festival, a meeting place for fans from all over the world to follow the matches outside the stadiums and which the football entity has transformed, like everything it touches, into a real business.

Huge lines of fans from all over the world. Argentines and Mexicans were the first Latinos to show up with their shirts. But, so far, there are many fans from North African countries (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), and also from neighboring Saudi Arabia.

It is a gigantic property in Al Bidda Park, next to Doha Bay, the most touristy area for those who come to see the World Cup. It has a permitted capacity for 40,000 people and the Supreme Committee estimates that close to a million and a half people will pass through here until the end of the World Cup.

There are food stalls from various regions of the world. For example, some papas bravas sell for 25 Qatari riyals (about 2,000 Argentine pesos to blue change), a hot dog for 35 ($3,000), a pizza for 30 ($2,500) and a Caesar salad for 45 (almost $4,000). Soft drinks from the brand that sponsors the World Cup cost 30 riyals ($2,500).

A spectacular giant screen of about one hundred square meters, high definition and a sound that surrounds the entire environment, dominates the property. There, starting this Sunday, the 64 World Cup matches will be screened and, in the intermissions, there will be DJs and musical shows. The opening was in charge of the Colombian Maluma, who made 40,000 people dance, filling the Fan Fest capacity.

In the run-up and when it was already dark over the bay, Qatar showed a top-level technological spectacle: fireworks, lights and drones, which among other figures put together the world cup and the ‘Welcome to Qatar’.

At the stands of the FIFA sponsoring brands there are fan-focused activities. Mini golf courses, interactive screens, games and even soccer stadiums.

The disappointment for the fans, and also for the business of FIFA, was made official this week. The Supreme Committee that organizes the World Cup finally confirmed that the sale of beer within the perimeter of the stadiums will not be enabled. Something common in the last World Cups and that finally the rules of a Muslim country, in which alcohol is only sold to tourists at high prices, is prohibited. The best opportunity will be at the Fan Fest, every day from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.