It has been a week since the festival of football kicked off in Russia and what a week it has been with some pulsating moves, close encounters, self-goals, first video assisted decisions and not to forget the lively and colourful fans rooting for their teams.
The whole world has been taken over by this beautiful game of football and it will surely keep everyone on their toes till the winner gets crowned on July 15. Football World Cup, which takes place once in every four years, is the most watched event on television and its popularity is unbeatable.
A slice of these celebrations are on display in Qatar at the various fan zones set up around the country. All these venues were packed with people from different countries coming together to either support their team or cheer for their favourite players. The mix of communities showed the cosmopolitan nature of Qatar and the vibrant mix of cultures, which is truly a strength for the nation, which will be inviting millions of these fans to its soli in another four years’ time.
The two most popular fan zones to watch the game on big screen were at the Khalifa International Stadium Fan Zone and the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena. Both are free to enter and offer a lot of activities for kids and families.
Watching a match with friends and family inside a stadium is an invigorating experience and the same kind of adrenaline rush can be had from these fan zones, where the matches are screened on a huge screen and it gives a feeling of sitting inside a stadium. The presence of thousands of fans cheering their favourite team or players adds to the flavor of the atmosphere.
Organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the Ministry of Culture and Sports and Qatar Tourism Authority, Qatar Fan Zone at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena has seen more than 18,000 fans till Wednesday. This numbers are expected go up on weekends and the final stages approach.
More than 5,000 fans attend the Fan Zone at Khalifa International Stadium to support Tunisia and another 5,500 plus people were there to watch the Egypt match against Russia.
In addition to screening live matches, the fan zones features entertainment, designated zone for children and families, and many food and beverage options.
These venues are surely the best place to catch some great footballing action while soaking up the real stadium atmosphere and having similar timing as Russia only helps.
