Supporters travelling to Qatar to follow their team in the World Cup have been warned that it won’t be easy, or cheap, to watch matches in Doha establishments.
The World Cup starts on November 20 when hosts Qatar play Ecuador, with England and Wales kicking off their tournaments a day later against Iran and the USA respectively. Organisers are expecting between 3,000 and 4,000 Three Lions fans and 2,400-3,000 Wales supporters to make the trip to the tiny Middle Eastern country to follow their sides
Those fans have already been warned the entire trip could cost them upwards of £5,000, with travel and accommodation scarce. Many supporters have decided to base themselves in nearby Dubai due to the lack of affordable hotels in Doha, but those who do stay in the Qatari capital should expect further difficulties – and damage to their wallets.
The i newspaper reports that every bar and hotel in Doha is planning on charging entrance fees ranging from £35 to £100 just to watch World Cup matches. Champions Sports Bar in the Marriott Hotel in Doha are charging 200 Qatari riyals, around £48, to watch group games. That price gets you three drink vouchers for a choice of Budweiser, Corona or house wine.
That price only allows you to stay put for three hours. If you want to watch another match – some days have three games back-to-back – then you must fork out another £48. And if your team reaches the latter stages of the World Cup then it’s going to cost you even more.
Champions are going to charge 750 riyals (£180) for entry and three drinks for the knockout stages and 1,000 riyals (£240) for the semis and final.
Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world per capita due to its oil and alcohol is always expensive due to the so-called “sin tax” put in place in the strict Muslim society. The extortionate fees might also be partly explained by reports that hotels and bars in Doha are being charged around £24,000 to show matches by host broadcaster beIN Sports.
That is unlikely to appease fans, who are already being hit in the pocket by huge hotel bills and ticket prices to games. Supporters who are lucky enough to get the cheapest match tickets (£1,200), flights (£800-£1,100) and accommodation (£2,552) for the entire month-long tournament are committing to paying around £5,000.
Ashley Brown, of the Footballer Supporters Association, told the Mirror last month: “I think it probably has to be the most expensive World Cup ever. The cheapest category of tickets were very difficult to come by. If you have a few beers then those numbers will soon add up.”
