Top Challenges And Opportunities For Qatar During The FIFA 2022

Qatar, a country recognized all around the world for its generous Arabian hospitality and top of the line services, is set to host the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the winter of 2022, what promises to be a grand spectacle. 32 teams, over a million fans, and eight world-class stadiums for a month-long footballing carnival, this is a competition that is already grabbing headlines around the world.

But here's a thing, while there are ample opportunities that the 2022 FIFA games are set to bring for Qatar, challenges are equally defining before the competition kicks off on 21st November 2022.

From controversies around LGBT rights and the availability of alcohol to opportunities for businesses during the FIFA 2022, this is a competition that has it all. So, to understand the different controversies and opportunities that the world cup in 2022 is bringing for Qatar, let's take a detailed analysis of the issues both against and in favor of the host nation in terms of the upcoming event.

What Are The Challenges In Front Of Qatar Ahead Of The FIFA World Cup?

Have a look at the challenges that Qatar is facing ahead of the upcoming world cup in the nation.

1. Availability Of Alcohol

One of the biggest challenges in front of Qatar ahead of the upcoming FIFA event is the availability of alcohol. Being an Islamic country, Qatar has strict restrictions against the consumption of alcohol at public places or on the streets. One cannot even enter the bars if below the age of 21. Likewise, only a few licensed hotels and restaurants in the country serve alcohol.

Hence, the lingering question is, how will Qatar manage the availability of alcohol during FIFA 2022 on such a large scale, and will it be made available to the fans in the stadiums?

Well, as per multiple reports, Qatar may take multiple steps to counter the issue of alcohol in the country. While giving subsidy on alcohol is something that is definitely on the cards, the country may well set up specific establishments as fan zones around the country where alcohol will be served to the fans at subsidized rates. However, that also means that there will be no alcohol in the stadiums.

Perhaps we can take an example from the recently held FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament saw alcohol being banned from the stadiums while separate fan zones were set up and the prices for alcohol were reduced to almost half. But here's a thing, the club world cup, in this case, was a total failure as the final venue of the competition was at an hour's drive from the drinking stop and fans were literally left stranded in the middle.

Hence, how Qatar deals with the challenge of alcohol remains to be seen.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation, after alcohol, remains a big talking point ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The country has an estimated 40,000 hotel rooms and plans to upgrade it to 70,000 ahead of the world cup. However, considering that the country is set to receive a whopping 1.2-1.5 million visitors, 70,000 hotel rooms may well not be enough to accommodate the number of visitors that are predicted to travel to Qatar.

There are reports that suggest the government in Qatar has signed deals with multiple cruise liners that will act as floating hotels during the world cup. These cruise liners would be able to accommodate about 40,000 visitors during the course of the month.

Likewise, Qatar has also approached the organizers of Glastonbury, the famous British Music Festival, to set up luxury tents in the desert in order to accommodate people. Hence, how this approach fairs out for Qatar remains to be seen.

3. Ample Number Of Flights

Another of those question marks ahead of the 2022 World Cup for Qatar is to sort out the situation of travel to the country. As discussed earlier, Qatar is set to receive a staggering 1.2-1.5 million visitors for the world cup. This means that there will be about twice as many visitors in Qatar as there were in Brazil for the 2014 world cup.

Hence, the prominent question is, how will the country manage travel for such a large number of visitors?

Well, the Hamad International Airport and Qatar Airways are set to join hands to bring in a staggering 1300 flights into the country on a daily basis for the whole month during the world cup. This will allow visitors to book a flight to Qatar without much hassle and avoid any kind of rush or cancellation.

But while sounds all sorted, the challenge of getting 1300 flights every day is a big one and the airport will have its task cut out.

4. Concerns Over LGBT

Same-sex relationships have been a problematic issue in Qatar over the years and the country does have laws against it. In fact, there is a state punishment of up to seven years while a death sentence could also be on the card in rare cases.

Hence, the question is, how will Qatar deal with the situation of LGBT once the world cup kicks off in the country?

Well, there are major question marks arising as to how Qatar even won the bid to host the world cup considering the country's LGBT situation. As many argue, the FIFA World Cup is a way to bring nations and communities together but when it comes to LGBT, Qatar's stance doesn't go well with the rest.

In a statement issued given by the sports minister of Qatar, Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, he stated that the impressions which state Qatar's disregard for culture and ethical values are baseless and that the country can come up with creative solutions to solve the concerns of LGBT supporters and players coming for the world cup. According to him, such solutions will not only ensure satisfaction for all but would also maintain the essence of Qatar's culture.

Opportunities For Qatar During the FIFA World Cup 2022

We know about the challenges that the host nation Qatar faces ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Now, let's take a look at the potential opportunities that are there for the country as the competition edges closer.

1. Opportunities For Travel Agencies And Metro

Travel companies may well be the biggest gainers once the FIFA 2022 games kick off in Qatar. The country is set to receive a staggering 1.2-1.5 million visitors which would directly mean higher flight bookings and Intercity travel in Qatar.

There are major developments expected in this case over the next year or so as airlines and other countries would come into a collaboration to schedule enough flights and according to the preferences of the visitors traveling from a particular country.

Not only this, but even the local travel agencies in the country would be on high alert as over a million visitors would travel from one venue to the other during the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Likewise, the metro in Doha is set to profit largely from the upcoming world cup considering the fact that the metro network may well ferry an estimated one million visitors during the competition. A 300 km long network that has a total of 100 stations, this will not only be a new record on the metro's behalf but would also profit significantly from it.

2. Opportunity For Hotels

Hotels are set to be jam-packed during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. There is already a lot of talk around how the country would accommodate such a large number of visitors during the world cup. The hotels would definitely have their task cut out every single hotel room in Qatar would be occupied during the world cup.

In fact, as mentioned earlier, the country is, in fact, planning to upgrade its accommodation capacity for the event.

3. Gain For Joint Ventures

Now here's a thing, joint ventures in Qatar have already profited enough and have been of great assistance to Qatar in the $200 billion USD infrastructural projects ahead of the world cup.

Take an example of the 2017 Moushtarayat Conference only. The conference saw Qatar giving about 1.4 billion worth of opportunities to small and medium scale businesses for the projects ahead of the FIFA 2022. Notably enough, the joint venture of PORR Qatar and MIDMAC was handed the opportunity to construct the Al Wakrah Stadium in Qatar which is one of the venues for the world cup.

Likewise, the joint venture of Contractor HBK Contracting Co. and CRCC was handed one of the most significant projects, to build the iconic Lusail Stadium. The project is also important because of the fact that the Lusail Stadium will be the venue for the world cup final on the 18th of December and is set to be the largest seating capacity in Qatar.

4. Other Business Opportunities

Opportunities are plenty in Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup in the country. While businesses like hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are set to gain from the upcoming event, there are other partnership opportunities too that are emerging at this time.

Most notably, private-public partnerships for multiple projects will be the name of the game for Qatar. These partnership models are estimated to be around worth $100 billion which would bring in a massive boost in the businesses in Qatar.

Likewise, the world cup would also be a chance to bridge the cultural gap between the Middle-East and European nations. The companies functioning in the country would also come up with new commodities to not only promote themselves but also raise awareness amongst the people regarding the FIFA World Cup.

Additional Facts Around The FIFA 2022

So, we know about the prominent challenges and opportunities that have come up or will come up during the world cup in Qatar. Let's wrap it all up with some additional facts around the upcoming FIFA event.

1. First-Ever Winter World Cup

The world cup in Qatar is set to be the first-ever winter cup to be held in the Northern Hemisphere. Owing to summer conditions in Qatar that make it virtually impossible to head for sightseeing or play any kind of sport, the decision has, thus, been taken by FIFA to shift the usual slot of June and July for the world cup to November and December.

2. Most Commutable World Cup Ever

Commutability is one of the most amazing facts about the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Owing to the size of the country, i.e., Qatar is about 1478 times smaller than the size of Russia, commuting from one venue to the other wouldn't be a hassle for the visitors during the world cup.

In fact, there are predictions that the Doha metro network will ferry an estimated one million visitors during the FIFA event in the country. Likewise, the two most remotely located stadiums in Qatar, Al Bayt, and Al Wakrah are only 90 miles apart.

3. Most Expensive World Cup Ever

With Qatar spending an estimated $200 billion USD on Infrastructural projects ahead of the world cup, this will, indeed, be the most expensive world cup ever. The country is building highways, hotels, seven new stadiums, roads connecting the stadiums, setting up an estimated 70,000 street lights, and so on.

Suggested Read: A Detailed Guide to the Stadiums in Qatar

4. Air-Conditioning In Stadiums

Perhaps one of the coolest facts about the upcoming world cup, there are a total of eight stadiums being lined up for the whole event and each stadium will air-conditioning facility in order to bring some respite to the visitors who would watch matches in the stadiums.

An event that is already grabbing headlines around the world, the FIFA World Cup 2022, though poses several challenges in front of Qatar, will also bring a vast amount of opportunities for businesses in the country. From public-private partnership models to surge in profit for travel agencies, this is a world cup that has it all.

FAQS

Q1. Is the World Cup happening in Qatar?

Yes, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to take place in Qatar after the country won the bid to host the event, defeating the likes of South Korea, Japan, and the USA in the final round.

Q2. What were the initial concerns with Qatar winning the World Cup bid?

Qatar faced allegations of bribery and the country's human rights record came under scrutiny right when the nation won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Q3. What date is World Cup 2022?

The FIFA World Cup in 2022 will begin on the 21st of November and end with the final scheduled on the 18th of December, just a week before Christmas.

Q4. How many stadiums will Qatar build?

Qatar is building seven new stadiums for the upcoming 2022 FIFA games while one stadium is being fully refurbished. There will be a total of eight venues for the world cup.

Q5. Will the 2022 World Cup be moved?

The 2022 World Cup has already been moved from its usual summer slot of June and July to November and December owing to the summer conditions in Qatar.