Slowly but surely, the buzz is building. But don’t expect it to be like any other World Cup. And don’t expect it to be smooth sailing either. VinceRugari
Slowly but surely, the buzz is building. As approximately a million football fanatics prepare to descend on Doha this weekend for the biggest sporting event the Arab world has seen, this country is rising to the moment it has been waiting more than a decade for.
Fans had long been promised they would be able to buy a beer before or after games but, reportedly at the behest of the Qatari royal family, those plans have been scrapped. That could be problematic for FIFA’s multimillion-dollar contract with Budweiser, and the company tweeted what everyone was thinking as the story broke: “Well, this is awkward …”
But on a steamy Friday night along Doha’s glittering waterfront promenade, the Corniche, thousands of revellers gathered anticipating what is about to unfold. Many of them, including a large band of Brazilian supporters who danced through the street, appeared to be local workers co-opting the colours of one of football’s traditional powers. There is talk of “fake fans” being paid to provide some much-needed atmosphere, but there was nothing artificial about their passion.
“We’re in an Islamic nation, they have different laws and customs, and that will, in itself, provide a very interesting and unique experience. A word of warning to the Socceroos, then: they will be significantly outnumbered in the stands in their second Group D match against Tunisia next Saturday night.can confirm after five days of judicious research, it is actually possible to drink alcohol in Qatar. In fact, it’s pretty easy. You just have to know where to look.
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