The Qatar World Cup promises to be unique for many reasons. Unusual date, limited accommodations, air-conditioned stadiums, and a direct duel between the best players on the planet. How to prepare financially for the World Cup? Here is some expert advice on matters such as ticket prices or the cost of living.
The controversy around the World Cup in Qatar has been building up since 2 December 2010, when the FIFA Executive Committee entrusted the Emirate with hosting the 2022 tournament. It was a stroke of luck that it was in 2010 that Qatar became, according to Global Finance, the wealthiest country in the world, with a per capita income of over 90,000 USD. Suggestions, and later outright accusations, of corruption in awarding the World Cup hosting rights quickly emerged. The FBI even investigated the case. However, it did not bring about a change of host for the World Cup.
How do you get a World Cup ticket, and how much do you have to pay for it?
Summers can be deadly in Qatar. From June to September, average daily temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Nights do not provide much relief, with the average not falling below 30 degrees for four consecutive months. That is why FIFA, when agreeing to bring the World Cup to the Gulf, also had to accept an unusual date: 21.11-18.12.2022. In November, the daytime temperature averages 24-30 degrees, while in December, it is around 20-25 degrees.
The final official phase of match ticket sales (last minute) is now open and will last until the end of the championship. But tickets are already running low, they are being sold out fast, and you have to be very lucky to buy them through FIFA.com/tickets.
What is essential is that supporters wishing to cross Qatar's borders will need a Hayya Card instead of a visa. An application for such a document can be submitted at Qatar2022.qa. The World Cup organisers explain: "You need this card to enter the State of Qatar, access the stadiums, travel for free on public transport and enjoy a host of other benefits."
The cheapest tickets in the stands are secured for Qatari residents. Visitors from abroad can buy individual tickets for group-stage matches priced between 250 and 800 Qatari riyals. In the knockout phase, prices rise to 2200-5850 riyals.
For 1 riyal, you have to pay about 0.25 GBP, which means that for the cheapest single ticket for a group match, according to today's rates, you will pay about 62 GBP, while for the most expensive one, you will already pay close to 200 GBP. The cheapest ticket for a cup match will cost more than 550 GBP, while a more comfortable seat will cost more than 1,450 GBP.
Dreamy fuel prices and an accommodation shortfall
The airline companies know that demand for flights to Qatar in November/December may exceed norms; therefore, ticket prices are also skyrocketing. For round-trip flights from London to Doha, one person will pay at least 900 GBP. However, the exact price depends on the date and the number of days spent there.
Petrol, on the other hand, is cheap in Qatar, with a litre costing around 1.9 riyals, or around 0.47 GBP. The cost of fuelling may change during the World Cup. Why?
"You say riyal, and you think US dollar. Indeed, the exchange rate of the Qatari currency is permanently pegged to the dollar, so from the point of view of British fans, the quotation of the US currency against the pound will affect the cost of a trip to the World Cup. This is bad news for them, as the pound recently reached historic lows. Although the British currency has recovered around 5% since that crash, it is still nearly 20% weaker against the dollar than it was just a year ago," explains Bartosz Sawicki, Conotoxia Market Analyst.
How are other prices on-site? You have to pay about 11 pounds for a meal in a bar, about 6 pounds for a burger, about 9 pounds for a half pint of beer in a market and about 13 pounds in a pub. Car rental prices start at around 45 pounds per day.
A night in a hotel room could be booked for as little as 45 GBP... if it were not for the fact that, for example, on the Booking.com platform, all accommodation is not available during the World Cup period. Therefore, the World Cup organisers are preparing a plan B: cabins on cruise ships docked in the port of Doha. An agency for international fans at qatar2022.qa may also be helpful in the accommodation search, and of course, private accommodation is also on offer.
What does the final spending plan look like?
The budget for two people for the 10-day trip to Qatar and the group stage thus looks as follows: Flights - approximately 1,800 GBP; tickets for the three matches - approximately 550 GBP; accommodation - around 900 GBP; car rental - about 550 GBP, food and drink expenses - some 550 GBP. In total - estimated - circa 4,400 GBP. However, be warned: your budget could increase significantly if you weren't looking at the cheapest tickets and support the team that makes it through the group stage to the final for the entire World Cup. This means buying tickets for seven matches, and for the final alone, it could be an expense of around 2,8-3,6 thousand pounds for two people.
"How to pay in Qatar? Above all, don't overpay. Riyal can be difficult to get at most British exchange offices - both land-based and online. A more convenient solution seems to be multi-currency cards, preferably from fintechs. Not only do they allow transactions in most currencies of the world, but they also make it cost-effective to withdraw cash from ATMs. One can only wish the supporters to use the cards until the grand final," Robert Blaszczyk, Head of Strategic Clients Department at Conotoxia.
