The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 has brought the festival atmosphere we experienced during the World Cup back to Qatar. Large-scale fan zones, cultural activations, seamless transport and targeted promotions have turned the prestigious football tournament into an accessible, family-friendly public celebration. Central to this has been the creation of multiple, high-profile fan hubs where supporters can gather long before kick-off.
Lusail Boulevard and The Pearl, together with Souq Waqif, Mina Park and Katara Cultural Village, have been activated with live screens, stage performances, food and craft vendors, children’s workshops and other activations, effectively extending the match experience across the city and into neighbourhoods. These sites run evening programmes that include cultural showcases alongside music and fan competitions, ensuring that the event appeals beyond traditional stadium goers.
The existence of world-class infrastructure and cultural venues helped the organisers make the event an unforgettable one for the visiting and local fans. This encourages longer stays across different parts of the capital and spreads economic and social benefits across multiple districts.
Logistics and fan experience have been well coordinated. Ticketing options such as “Follow My Team” passes and accessible price points broaden attendance, while organisers have ensured easy transport access, including extended Doha Metro services and clear guidance on bus and taxi routes, to keep journeys efficient for visiting supporters. Dedicated large-screen setups have been paired with food and hospitality offerings at key fan zones, creating layers of experience that cater to families, travelling fans and more casual visitors alike.
Taken together, Qatar’s approach demonstrates an evolution in hosting; it is not only about stadia and fixtures but about stitching sport into the wider cultural and urban fabric. By dispersing fan activity, leveraging iconic cultural sites, and pushing transport and ticketing levers to reduce barriers to attendance, organisers have turned each matchday into a city-wide celebration. If the early crowds and colourful scenes across Doha are any guide, the Arab Cup will be another historic milestone in Qatar’s hosting journey.
