DOHA —
Qatar World Cup ticket sales were launched at
reduced prices on Wednesday with residents and migrant workers able to attend
games for just $11 as concerns persist over COVID-19.
اضافة اعلان
Authorities have not yet announced how many fans will be
allowed into stadiums for the first World Cup in an
Arab country, which runs
from November 21 until December 18.
Football's world governing body
FIFA opened a draw which
offers individual match tickets for as little as $69 for international fans —
about one-third less than at Russia 2018 — but a ticket for the final could
cost up to $1,607.
Qatari residents, including migrant laborers whose
treatment has been a source of controversy for the organizers, will be able to
get tickets for as little as $11.
Fans who apply now for the different packages -- for
individual games or following a team, or for special stadium tickets -- will go
into a draw after the first deadline on February 8. FIFA said fans who are
successful in a random draw will be told by March 8.
Qatar has spent billions of dollars preparing for the
first winter World Cup and FIFA is staking a lot of its prestige in making sure
it goes smoothly.
Seven stadiums have been purpose-built and one
refurbished, but as there will not be enough hotels some fans may have to stay
on cruise ships for the event.
"This is a FIFA World Cup for
Qatar, the region and
the world, and the products launched today reflect FIFA's goal of bringing the
beautiful game to as many fans globally as possible," said FIFA Secretary
General Fatma Samoura.
"The first FIFA World Cup in the
Middle East and Arab
world will be an extraordinary event," said Nasser Al-Khater, Qatar's
chief organizer.
"Qatar cannot wait to bring fans together to
celebrate their shared passion for football, experience a new culture and enjoy
everything that our country and region have to offer."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is now based mainly
in Qatar, said one year ago he was confident the coronavirus pandemic would be
over by the time the World Cup starts, and that the matches would be played in
full stadiums.
Organizers have predicted up to 1.2 million visitors could
pour in for the 32-team tournament.
With the Omicron variant ravaging many countries, Qatar
currently imposes tight restrictions on visitors including quarantine for new
arrivals.
FIFA and the Qatar government "are committed to
putting health first" and would lay on "required safeguards" for
the finals, the world body said.
Fans will need a special pass, a Hay'ya Card, to get
access to stadiums and this could include COVID-19 test information.
All players, officials and fans "must follow the
travel advice from the Qatari authorities", FIFA said.
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