Qatar World Cup Reflections: Day 1

As I got ready to embark with my son on yet another World Cup journey, I recalled the journey in 2018 to Russia's World Cup Edition. Ironically, that was to the largest country on earth, some 16 million square kilometers. We were now getting ready to watch the World Cup in one of the smallest, Qatar- a little over 11 thousand square kilometers- 0.06% of the landmass of the previous one. This was my first journal entry in Russia, drafted in June 2018:

"So the trip is expected take a route starting in Washington, DC in the US, transiting through Dublin, Ireland, then Munich, Germany, then onto Warsaw, Poland for a day trip, through Kaunas, Lithuania, and Riga, Latvia in the Baltics, then north up to St. Petersburg in Russia. Inside Russia, it will then take us to Moscow, Kazan, Nizhniy Novgorod, Sochi, back up to St. Petersburg, and finally Moscow again to catch a flight back through Vegas, and then finally back home to DC. The total distance traveled will be approximately 18,500 miles within 26 days, and average on 705 miles or more than 1,000 kilometers per day ..."

The World Cup trip to Qatar had so far been so much easier to organize than all the previous four World Cups I had attended. One hotel reservation for the entire stay. No visas. No car rentals necessary. No trains. No planes, except for the round trip to and back. All stadiums located in one place to be attended by metro and busses, all free. No paper tickets (all electronic). So far, it seemed like a World Cup fan's dreams, only the second to be set in and around a single city (Montevideo, Uruguay had been the first World Cup held in and around that Latin American city with only eight teams playing in only 4 stadiums). This tournament was its modern counterpart hosting teams from 32 nations and games being played across eight stadiums (All other World Cups had been located across much larger nations) all within 40 km of each other. No matter how one sliced and diced it, this promised to be quite the experience than Russia and indeed all other World Cups we had visited before.

After a long but smooth flight, we arrived to a comfortably warm weather in Doha where everything looks pristine. The brand new airport is expansive and with its own built-in modern transporter. Inside the airport, the local telcos generously offered us free sim cards. The luggage took 5 minutes and waiting for us outside was Hakkan sent by a friend to show us around the new highway loop around the city. This is my 5th World Cup (which means I've now attended as many as Messi and Ronaldo!), but the first in a single city, making it the most convenient. On the way to our hotel we passed by no less than 5 stadiums.

The hotel, the Ezdan, in the city center is Vegas-massive with 3,000 rooms and nice views of the lit Corniche skyline. After checking in, we hurried to the fan zone, a 30 minute stroll along a busy Corniche filled with World Cup posters and signs in time for the Brazil-Cameroon game. There are multinational ushers everywhere and walking around has felt both safe and welcoming.

The fan zone itself was almost full to capacity with fans from everywhere and of all ages donning their team clothes. We bought the traditional head gear (agal) and locals kindly approached my son to help him fix it according to Arab tradition. He walked happy and proud with it on. Once the game ended with a surprise last minute Cameroon goal that beat Brazil 1-0, we started heading back to the hotel, leaving behind a big party with American singers taking the Fan Fest stage and fans celebrating and dancing.

The first night was capped with Lebanese food, what else? The passion for the game has so far been matched with a homely feel. This will be a great World Cup!



































Location: Doha, Qatar

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