With Gulf states seemingly lacking the capacity to accommodate the crowds, surrounding countries including Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are preparing to play hosts. Many departments in other countries are also working to help people watch events in stadiums.
Details about the 2022 FIFA World Cup
This year's competition consists of 32 teams, with Qatar automatically qualifying as host. All teams are arranged into eight groups, each group consists of four teams. Each team is guaranteed to play at least three games. The top 16 teams selected in the knockout stages will compete in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The sporting event will be held at the 80,000-seat Lusail International Stadium in Lusail .
As of now, Qatar is the smallest country to ever host a FIFA World Cup. It is therefore relatively easy to travel to the country to attend this massive event. In addition, all eight stadiums for all matches are located within a 35-mile radius of the country's capital, Doha. All stadiums are well connected to the capital's metro system, allowing visitors to see different matches without having to travel far.
Challenges for Qatar’s tourism industry
Qatar’s biggest challenge will be how to receive the large number of foreign tourists while allowing them to have a good travel experience when they leave. But since this is a huge economic opportunity, Qatar must come up with a solution. The tourism and construction industries are expected to be the main beneficiaries. The government expects to generate $20 billion in revenue from hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Therefore, they need to rethink the metro system, airport expansion, new buildings, and a better travel experience.
