England’s star-studded squad will be treated like royalty when they stay in the Souq Al Wakra hotel for the World Cup later this year.
The Three Lions players will be unable to enjoy any boozy celebrations, given the hotel’s alcohol-free status, but they can expect a private beach, fitness centre and hydro pool as well as a spa and multiple restaurants.
According to Sportsmail, a provisional booking has been made for November of this year – when the tournament is set to start.
Al-Wakra is a fishing village 10 miles south of Doha and boasts the Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium which will double up as England’s training ground for the entire campaign as Gareth Southgate puts them through their paces.
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The stadium holds 12,000 at capacity and is the home of the Al-Wakrah Sports Club, a multi-sport club whose football team currently sit third in the Qatar Stars League.
FA delegates are thought to have paid a visit to both sites to determine whether they were up to scratch for what Southgate’s squad needs and were happy with what they saw.
Though FIFA still have to confirm these decisions, the FA are not expecting any pushback from the game’s governing body and have already taken the step of telling players to inform family and friends to book hotels nearby.
Southgate's preference for the Souq Al Wakra hotel is largely down to its location and transport links, with England's potential base just a short drive from eight of the 10 tournament stadiums.
Al Wakrah also offers a tad more peace and quiet for both the players and their families, the kind of privacy and relaxation that may not have been accessible in the busy capital city of Doha.
The hotel describes itself as a "an elegant seaside stay near central Doha" and will set you back £110 per-night during non-peak season.
The average room boasts the usual amenities such as a flat-screen TV, free wifi and a coffee machine.
With five on-site restaurants the Three Lions will have their pick from Mediterranean cuisine to Arabic and Levantine meals like mezze plates, mixed grill or local dish sawani.
A spa inside the hotel offers plenty of different treatments to help England's players unwind after a long day of training.
One feature that may have enticed Southgate is the hotel's meeting rooms, which are all "equipped with the latest state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment."
There has been much discussion surrounding alcohol consumption for fans in this tournament and as things stand the only places that will sell booze are five-star hotels and FIFA-run fan parks.
With that being said, the Souq Al Wakra is one of the rare luxury hotels that does not stock any alcohol on site but Mocktails are available.
