Doha, June 15, GNA – One of the major concerns at previous world cups especially in huge geographical areas like Brasil, South Africa and recently Russia was the number of hours spent in traveling from one match venue to the other.
During the 2014 World Cup in Brasil, players and fans had to travel long hours between five and eight hours, by flight on each trip before getting to a match venue and this obviously had a toll on everybody.
Similar conditions existed in Russia during the 2018 World Cup, but on the contrary, Qatar 2022 World Cup would be different, and it would defy time and space and provide a platform for a unique football party, best-ever in the history of the competition.
One of the major factors that would make the 2022 World Cup a unique one, is obviously the size of the oil-rich country, which covers just about 11,571 km (sq).
With the size of the country, each of the eight stadiums built for the competition are so close to each other and fans could afford to watch at least three matches in a day, taking into consideration the traveling distance between the stadiums.
The farthest one can travel to watch or cover a match is one hour, that is the Al Bayt Stadium, which is located on the outskirts of Doha, whilst the maximum one could make to other venues such as the Al Janoub Stadium, Lusail Stadium, 974 Stadium, which are located within Doha, is 30-45 minutes.
In addition, the organisers have made comfortable travel arrangements with the provision of effective bus and rail services, which would operate 24 hours throughout the competition.
FIFA Legend Lothar Matheus in addressing the international media on Wednesday, at the Al Janoub Stadium said, the 2022 World Cup unlike the ones held in Russia, and Brasil, comes with short traveling times, which would be good for players, coaches and fans.
“Players would have less time traveling to match venues, meaning there would be less stress on them. Fans would be much closer to the players this time around.
“This is definitely going to be the best world cup ever. It would be a compact world cup with fans from the 32 countries getting closer to each other to celebrate football.
“The size of the country would make it easy for much fun and entertainment and this gives me the conviction that the 2022 World Cup would be great,” he added.
Qatar, would host 31 other countries between November 11 and December 18, this year for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
GNA