Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022: Q&A

And if you’re one of them, this is what you should know before travelling to the event.

 

Anyone planning to enter the country between the 1st of November and December 23, will be required a Hayya Card, which is a fan ID mandatory even if you don’t want to personally go and see the football matches.

The card will enable the permission to stay inside Qatar’s borders until January 23, 2023, as well as bring along three friends or family members who have not purchased any game tickets. Owners of the Hayya Card will be allowed to exit and enter the country multiple times until access expires. Moreover, the fan ID will grant free access to any form of public transportation on match days.

You might also wonder which are the current valid regulations related to Covid-19. If so, you should know that starting November 1st, no Ehteraz national health app registration, no PCR or rapid antigen tests are required in order to enter Qatar.

At the same time, football fans will no longer be asked to present a vaccination certificate, so feel free to enjoy the matches with no concerns over any restrictions, but remain vigilant and responsible while in crowded places in order to limit the spread of the virus. Travel insurance might however be a very good idea, as medical care in Qatar can be extremely expensive.

What about accommodation options?

Football enthusiasts or simply tourists entering the country during the Qatar World Cup will be redirected to the tournament’s official booking agency website in order to make reservations for the accommodation facility of choice. Guests can choose from a wide variety of hotels and villas. All bookings will have to be validated and registered on the Hayya Portal website.

What other information should you be aware of while visiting Qatar?

Same sex relationships are illegal in the country, and public intimacy should not be displayed between couples. However, despite very specific rules related to sexual orientation, friends or unmarried visitors will be allowed to share rooms as an exception for the tournament.

Moreover, while in the country you should know that laws regarding alcohol and e-cigarettes can be extremely tight. Alcohol can be served only by licensed hotel restaurants and bars and only to people older than 21 years of age. E-cigarettes are forbidden in Qatar, so fans are advised to not take the risk and use one of these devices while attending the matches or during their stay. €2,694 fines or even prison sentences can be applied for visitors who will not comply to this rule.

 

Source: euronews.com