Major changes have been put in place during this World Cup for those without tickets following the end of the group stages.
Colonel Jabr Hammoud Jabr Al Nuaimi, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Interior and the World Cup Security Force, reportedly said: “… non-ticketed fans can enter the State of Qatar after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group Stage – starting from 2 December 2022 – to enjoy the unique tournament atmosphere here with teams and fans in the country.”
But those who want to travel to Qatar still need to apply for a Hayya card, which is required for anyone who wishes to watch. Applications can be made online through the official World Cup website or the Hayya to Qatar 22 mobile app.
BIG WELCOME
He added: “All parties will work to ensure the safety and security of the fans. We welcome everyone and we all cooperate to ensure that the tournament is a continuing success.”
The Hayya card, a Fan ID, also provides free access to metro and bus transportation services. Hayya cardholders can stay in Qatar until Jan 23, 2023.
Even more inspiring news is the further confirmation that a metro train will run every 165 seconds to transport fans over a period of 21 days. And besides this, 3,600 buses will also be in operation for daily transportation during the tournament.
Congratulations to Qatar as they continue to make this World Cup a more free-and-easy escapade as the knockout stage starts this week.
Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor