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Qatar 2022 - are you on board?

Roar Rookie
27th July, 2022
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Roar Rookie
27th July, 2022
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Here we are, gearing up for the start of a new EPL season, the A-League fixtures are due out and the summer tournaments are wrapping up.

Football life is soon to return to normal, Saturday nights that start at 5pm and go on until sunrise. Domestic football bliss. But then it all comes to a halt in mid-November as the FIFA World Cup breaks almost a century of tradition and slices almost every domestic football season around the world in two.

The time for uproar has long gone to be replaced by an uncomfortable disquiet. This is definitely happening.

Against all odds, the World Cup is in Qatar and all eyes will be focused on this tiny Middle Eastern nation that has almost rebuilt itself to host the world’s biggest football party.

Many, though, are dismissing this tournament, especially in Australia – after all, the World Cup was meant to be here – and there are World Cup regulars who will not be making the journey despite the Socceroos’ miraculous qualification.

An admirable silent protest, but the show will go on.

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So, what are we to expect of Qatar? What is the point of difference? That’s an obvious one to answer. Every game is taking place in the same city, all fans from all countries will be landing at the same airport, most teams will be based in the capital Doha, and there will be an Olympic Games-type vibe.

All teams have a base for the whole duration of the tournament, there is no internal travel, and the conditions and temperature should be conducive to good football, with night time being refreshingly cool.

Plus, there are four games a day. Getting to two games in one day and enjoying the before and after party is more than doable. This is a World Cup for the football fanatic.

Of course, there are challenges for the hosts, as there have been since Sepp Blatter held up the winning card 12 years ago.

(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The football tourist may have a hard time finding anything touristy to do, with so many people descending on a city that is not famed for its depth of attractions. Accommodation is expensive and scarce, but there is enough to go around and something to suit all tastes and budgets.

Getting around could be difficult too, due to the sheer number of extra people to move from place to place, the traffic is notorious, but a brand new metro system will be the saviour. The conservative rules about dress and public affection are also inhibitive to the holiday-making football fan.

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What’s more, the link between football and beer is being challenged at this World Cup, and fans will be limited to drinking Budweiser at fan sites and at the pre and post-match party zones for ticket-holders.

The idea of sitting outside a restaurant with a bottle of wine and then hitting a late-night bar to dance the night away, a scenario from every recent World Cup for a lot of fans, is simply not an option in Qatar. This is definitely going to be a unique World Cup experience for many.

And how are we going to consume our World Cup in Australia? There are a handful of games at the glorious 9pm AEDT timeslot and plenty of achievable 6am games, too.

At least one local council in Sydney has floated the idea of live sites, and every game is being shown on free-to-air TV back at football’s spiritual home of SBS.

With the A-League Women set to be the only domestic football on offer from mid-November to mid-December, and football’s rival codes in deep pre-season, all eyes will be on Qatar and the Socceroos.

It’s coming soon, less than four months away. Will you be watching?

Of course you will.

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