DOHA, October 17 (Xinhua) – The organizers of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup announced on Monday that ticket sales for the tournament have approached three million and that Qatar is fully ready to host the World Cup, 34 days before the start of the tournament, which will take place for the first time in the region.
Executive Director of World Cup Operations at the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), Colin Smith, said at a press conference held today in Doha with the slogan “A month to start the World Cup” to show the final operational preparations, that ticket sales have so far reached two million and 890,000 tickets to attend the matches of the tournament.
Smith added that fans from Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, England, Mexico, UAE, Argentina, France, Brazil and Germany top the list of countries with the most tournament tickets and the Qatar World Cup set a record record in hospitality ticket sales.
He stated that the teams will arrive in Doha starting November 7 and that the Japanese team will be the first to arrive and the 32 teams will live in distinct sites that have been equipped to express each team’s identity and traditional colors. .
He pointed out that ticket activation on the FIFA World Cup ticket application will begin tomorrow (Tuesday) and emails will reach fans who have made purchases to get the digital card.
For his part, the director general of the Supreme Committee for the handover and legacy of Qatar, Yasser Al-Jammal, stressed during the press conference that Qatar is fully prepared to host a unique version of the World Championship after more than ten years. of hard work and close cooperation with partners across the country.
Al-Jamal added that Doha has completed its preparations in all respects, and the characteristics of the World Cup have appeared in all regions and roads of the country, and that everything suggests that the World Cup is approaching and everyone is ready. the sites have been tested and are ready.
He points out that there is a growing demand for residency applications, especially in the group stages, where the official residency platform has received around two million applications, as well as announcing the availability of 30,000 rooms on this platform in parallel with the sale of last minute cards.
He revealed that the number of requests for the “Haya” card has reached about 2.3 million, which is the card that acts as an entry permit for fans from abroad and allows its holder to enter stadiums and use the tickets for free. public transport, considering that the “Haya” card is a local idea that has gone global allowing its holders to enter many countries.
In turn, tournament CEO Nasser Al-Khater said the world will witness a unique version of the World Cup that will leave a lasting positive impact on Qatar and the entire region.
Al-Khater said more than 12,000 journalists have been approved for media coverage of the tournament, plus others through the Qatar portal who are not accredited by FIFA, noting that the main media center will include a virtual stadium to provide the opportunity. journalists who do not have tickets to attend the matches to follow them from inside the virtual stadium, which will provide an experience that simulates reality.
He said 89% of the World Cup volunteers are from within Qatar and 11% from outside Qatar, and will arrive in the country in the next few days, as a large percentage of them have been trained and the training process is nearing completion.
During the conference, Al-Khater announced a series of entertainment events to be held across the country to welcome visitors during the tournament, as well as the availability of international support, with 90 representatives from 45 embassies providing consultations to fans of the Cup. of the World for the first time in the history of the tournament.
Qatar will host the World Cup for the first time in its history and in the history of the region from 20 November to 18 December, with the participation of 32 teams.
