Staggering cost lingering for fans hoping to attend the World Cup
With 1.2 million people set to descend on Doha for the World Cup, the big question surrounding the global event is where will everyone actually sleep?
Australian football fans hoping to snag a room or at least a bed for the World Cup may be faced with accommodation bills upwards of $50,000 – and that’s if you’re lucky.
Aussie fans reacted with absolute jubilation on Tuesday morning after the Socceroos booked their place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a thrilling win over Peru. But following the thrilling win, and in the lead up to the biggest sporting event of the year, fanatics have a new challenge on their hands if they have any hope of attending the tournament.
With around 1 million people from around the world trying to secure somewhere to stay in Doha for the Cup, early punters have been quoted tens of thousands to get a bed for the duration – or even part thereof – the tournament.
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Normally Doha is home to less than three million so finding space for the extra visitor load in time for the first game on November 21 has been a challenge in itself.
The Socceroos will go head-to-head with France on March 23, before kicking off with Tunisia three days later.
But with other teams from around the world already securing their spot – booking agents, Airbnb and even flight prices have surged into the tens of thousands of dollars due to fans desperate to visit the small Gulf state late this year.
Speaking to Sky News,England fan CJ Joiner from Coventry hopes to make the trip with his partner and their newborn son – who will be just eight months old in November.
“If you go on booking.com or Airbnb now you are talking fifty or sixty grand for a month in an apartment or in a room,” he said.
“The actual hotels and stuff you can’t really book – there is literally just no availability …. there’s plenty of beds available but they are just not available to book yet.
“I can understand that there will be lots of people out there thinking, ‘Oh no what am I going to do’ … but I’m still confident everyone will find somewhere to stay.”
A quick search on Booking.com, and you’re already out of luck.
This is because, according to the Associated Press,tournament organisers secured rooms for representatives from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), sponsors and international media. It’s also in an attempt to stop early price gauging from hoteliers.
On the official FIFA website, hotels, apartments and villas have all been spruiked as accommodation options – as well as the Fan Village for desert camping and rooms aboard cruise ships.
“More than 30,000 hotel and residential rooms are still under construction and will be released to the market in due course” the Supreme Committee told Sky News.
As for listings on Airbnb, it will cost a small fortune if you decide to book a listing – with just a few weeks in Doha ranging anywhere from $20,000 for a very simple apartment to $100,000 for a basic room that sleeps five people.
For those looking for a cheaper option, fans may still be in luck and able to snap up a slice of sand that backs on to the desert about an hour’s drive south of Doha.
The cabanas – which are being spruiked as five star – will have their own bedrooms and a private bathroom.
Speaking to Sky News, Angel Tindoy – a supervisor at a beach resort which sits next door and will run the site said they’re ready for guests to arrive.
“We have a lot of guests coming from around the world,” she said. “They can expect five-star … service amenities and facilities.”
However, some fans are already questioning whether ‘camping’ will be a suitable option for thousands of football fanatics.
“I don’t think many fancy camping in a desert, in fact I don’t know anyone that has signed up to that option,” England fan Kieran Baker from South Yorkshire said.
“It’s hard to put a price on how much this tournament is going to cost for me – it’s definitely a step into the unknown.”
As for flights, direct routes with Qatar Airways are sitting around the $2300 mark from Sydney, or closer to $3500 return. The airline also has select ‘packages’ whereby travellers can combine flights, accommodation and even match tickets from around $5000 for a few nights. But you will need to join the airline’s Privilege Club to access the deals.
According to local media, there are also ‘fan villages’ in three separate locations – being in Zafaran, Ras Bu Fontas and Rawdat Al Jahhaniya, all just outside the city.
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“Fan villages are located on the outskirts of Doha but are still accessible via public transport or rideshares, keeping you in easy reach of all of popular cultural attractions, as well as FIFA World Cup stadiums and activations,” Qatar’s Accommodation Agency said.
The camps have been billed as a low-cost alternative to hotels and Airbnb accommodation given their low comparative cost with a two-person cabin from just $207 per night.
News.com.au has contacted Airbnb and Qatar Airways for comment.
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