QATAR World Cup ticket sales were launched at reduced prices on Wednesday with residents and migrant workers able to attend games for just $11 as concerns persist over COVID-19.
Authorities have not yet announced how many fans will be allowed into stadiums for the first World Cup in an Arab country, which runs from November 21 until December 18.
Football's world governing body FIFA opened a draw which offers individual match tickets for as little as $69 for international fans -- about one third less than at Russia 2018 -- but a ticket for the final could cost up to $1,607.
Qatari residents, including migrant labourers whose treatment has been a source of controversy for the organisers, will be able to get tickets for as little as $11.
However, fan organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) said that tickets would cost more for travelling spectators than in Russia.
"As FIFA announces the most expensive World Cup ever, it also appears that it has drastically reduced the number of affordable tickets," FSE said on Twitter.
The cheapest tickets for the final itself would be over $604 rather than $455 in 2018.
Fans who apply now for the different packages -- for individual games or following a team, or for special stadium tickets -- will go into a draw after the first deadline on February 8. FIFA said fans who are successful in a random draw will be told by March 8.
Qatar has spent billions of dollars preparing for the first winter World Cup and FIFA is staking a lot of its prestige in making sure it goes smoothly.
Seven stadiums have been purpose-built and one refurbished, but as there will not be enough hotels some fans may have to stay on cruise ships for the event.
- 'Extraordinary event' -
"This is a FIFA World Cup for Qatar, the region and the world, and the products launched today reflect FIFA's goal of bringing the beautiful game to as many fans globally as possible," said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
"The first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world will be an extraordinary event," said Nasser Al Khater, Qatar's chief organiser.
"Qatar cannot wait to bring fans together to celebrate their shared passion for football, experience a new culture and enjoy everything that our country and region have to offer."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is now based mainly in Qatar, said one year ago he was confident the coronavirus pandemic would be over by the time the World Cup starts, and that the matches would be played in full stadiums.
Organisers have predicted up to 1.2 million visitors could pour in for the 32-team tournament.
With the Omicron variant ravaging many countries, Qatar currently imposes tight restrictions on visitors including quarantine for new arrivals.
FIFA and the Qatar government "are committed to putting health first" and would lay on "required safeguards" for the finals, the world body said.
Fans will need a special pass, a Hay'ya Card, to get access to stadiums and this could include Covid test information.
All players, officials and fans "must follow the travel advice from the Qatari authorities", FIFA said.
ETX Studio
Thu Jan 20 2022
Authorities have not yet announced how many fans will be allowed into stadiums for the first World Cup in an Arab country, which runs from November 21 until December 18. - Photo by fifg / Shutterstock
Pulau Pinang sedang kaji prospek penubuhan Zon Kewangan Khas
Kerajaan negeri sedang mengkaji prospek penubuhan Zon Kewangan Khas di Pulau Pinang sebagai enjin pertumbuhan.
AWANI Borneo [30/05/2024] - Ibu Kota Nusantara | Subsidi diesel | Pesta Kaamatan
AWANI Borneo Selasa, 30 Mei 2024 bersama Assim Hassan.
Ibu Kota Nusantara : KDN kaji buka sempadan baharu di Sabah & Sarawak.
SKDS 2.0 : Pelaksanaan di Sabah dan Sarawak, pantau pelaksanaan di Semenanjung dahulu.
Pesta Kaamatan : Keunikan budaya Dusun Tatana.
Ibu Kota Nusantara : KDN kaji buka sempadan baharu di Sabah & Sarawak.
SKDS 2.0 : Pelaksanaan di Sabah dan Sarawak, pantau pelaksanaan di Semenanjung dahulu.
Pesta Kaamatan : Keunikan budaya Dusun Tatana.
Buruh binaan warga India didakwa tunjuk kemaluan dalam lif
Sewa Singh, 26, membuat pengakuan itu selepas pertuduhan dibaca di hadapan Hakim, Norshila Kamaruddin.
Keluarga tahanan mati dalam lokap dapat pampasan lebih RM300,000
Mahkamah Tinggi memberikan pampasan lebih RM300,000 kepada keluarga S.Balamurugan yang meninggal dunia ketika dalam tahanan polis.
Pintu masuk baharu sempadan Kalimantan sedang dikaji
Kementerian Dalam Negeri sedang mengkaji pembukaan beberapa pintu sempadan baharu membabitkan kawasan yang telah dipersetujui dengan Kerajaan Republik Indonesia.
Bicara 1MDB babit Najib selesai hari ini
Pihak pendakwaan menutup kes berkenaan sejurus semua 50 individu selesai memberi keterangan terhadap bekas Perdana Menteri berkenaan.
Bambarayon kerjasama Astro Fibre & ERA Sabah
ERA Sabah dengan kerjasama Astro Fibre mempersembahkan Bambarayon yang membawa maksud ‘Semangat Padi’, menampilkan Stacy Anam selaku pelantun utama dan Konco Pagi ERA, Addnan, Mijul dan Emma.
Keunikan budaya Dusun Tatana
Sub etnik dusun iaitu Dusun Tatana turut mempraktikkan budaya mengalai, moginum, serta meraikan Tahun Baru Cina atas faktor asimilasi budaya sejak ratusan tahun lalu.
Perkasa perpaduan, keharmonian berbilang kaum Sabah
Pesta Kaamatan pada tahun ini bukan sahaja berkisar tentang hasil tuaian padi, malah bertujuan untuk memperkasakan semangat perpaduan dan keharmonian masyarakat berbilang kaum di Sabah.
Perayaan jadi asas semangat perpaduan, kerukunan rakyat Malaysia
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata kedua-dua perayaan mampu menjadi asas kepada semangat perpaduan dan kerukunan buat seluruh rakyat Malaysia meskipun berlainan etnik, ras (kelompok) atau kaum
Anwar tegaskan tidak kepada kasino kedua di Malaysia
Beliau berkata Malaysia kini menumpukan sektor transformasi digital, peralihan tenaga serta kecerdasan buatan (AI).
Qatar tawar insentif lebih RM11 bilion untuk pelabur luar sertai agenda transformasi digitalnya
Qatar tawar QR9 bilion (lebih RM11 bilion) untuk pelabur sertai agendanya membuat transformasi digital, termasuk AI dan bahasa Arab.
Anwar terus guna platform dunia selar sikap prejudis kuasa besar
Perdana Menteri terus menggunakan platform dunia untuk menyelar sikap hipokrit sesetengah kuasa besar yang bersikap selektif, dan sengaja menyebarkan fahaman tidak betul terhadap dunia Islam.
Malaysia, Qatar bincang secara mendalam konflik Palestin-Israel
Perdana Menteri berkata kedua negara bersetuju, semua pihak perlu memainkan peranan untuk mencari penyelesaian bagi mengakhiri penderitaan rakyat Palestin.
Malaysia, Qatar setuju pertingkat kerjasama pelaburan pada tahun mendatang - PM Anwar
Malaysia dan Qatar bersetuju mempertingkatkan kerjasama pelaburan antara kedua-dua negara pada tahun-tahun mendatang, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
PM Anwar diberi sambutan rasmi sempena lawatan sulung ke Qatar
Perdana Menteri tiba di dewan pemerintahan negara Qatar itu pada 10.30 pagi waktu tempatan (3.30 petang waktu Malaysia) disambut Amir Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Malaysia hargai peranan Qatar untuk rundingan perdamaian Hamas-Israel
Malaysia menzahirkan penghargaan penting Qatar dalam usaha tanpa henti untuk menjadi perantara rundingan perdamaian antara Hamas dan Israel.
PM Anwar lawat Qatar mulai Ahad
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim akan melakukan lawatan rasmi ke Qatar dari 12 hingga 14 Mei.
Biden bincang dengan pemimpin Qatar, Mesir cadangan gencatan senjata Gaza
Biden mengesahkan AS bersama-sama Mesir dan Qatar akan berusaha untuk memastikan pelaksanaan penuh syarat-syaratnya.
Jepun, Uzbekistan berentap final Piala Asia B-23
Pasukan yang kalah dalam penentuan tempat ketiga itu akan menentang Guinea yang berada pada kedudukan keempat.