Qatar has just launched a fan village featuring 6,000 modular cabins. This location will provide affordable accommodation for football fans attending the World Cup.
The World Cup 2022 fan village is situated on a secluded area of 3.1 km² in Doha, close to the metro station, bus terminal, restaurants, and convenience stores. Officials have stated that this area could theoretically accommodate up to 12,000 people.
Rental prices are about $200 per night, with an additional $70 for meals. Omar al-Jaber, head of the accommodation department at the agency responsible for overseeing all construction projects and infrastructure for FIFA World Cup 2022, mentioned that approximately 60% of the cabins have already been booked.
Other rooms are available for $80 per night, typically located near Hamad International Airport and Doha International Airport, both of which will have flights at all hours during the tournament. Those staying in the fan village can expect a 40-minute commute to the stadiums in the city.
“Most fans prefer apartments and villas,” al-Jaber noted, mentioning that these options are managed by the French hotel company Accor. However, those seeking budget accommodation will find the fan village appealing.
The cabins in the village are brightly colored. Each cabin is equipped with thin partitions, accommodating 1-2 people with two single beds, a bedside table, a small table and chairs, air conditioning, and a bathroom with a shower.
The fan village also features convenience stores, a communal viewing area with seating, large screens, and temporary indoor and outdoor restaurants. Lush green artificial grass covers the walkways outside.
In the lead-up to the tournament, Qatar is facing an accommodation crisis, lacking hotels for all teams, workers, volunteers, and fans of World Cup 2022. As a result, the city of Doha has decided to create camping sites and cabins, rent cruise ships, and encourage fans to stay in neighboring countries and commute to watch the tournament. Qatar estimates there will be 130,000 rooms available each day during the World Cup.
“If you want to come and stay, visitors still have plenty of options, from hotels, cabins on cruise ships, yachts, traditional tents, to cabins… We have enough accommodation, and everyone can still come to enjoy the tournament,” al-Jaber affirmed.
