Qatar World Cup readiness - accommodation issues remain

We're just under two months out from the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals in Qatar. Yes, it's hard for some to get their head around the fact that the competition will not be played in its traditional June/July slot. We know the reasons why.

Indeed, hours after Sepp Blatter pulled Qatar's name out of the hat as host for this year's edition in 2010, there were rumblings of a winter staging, in spite of measures that could be put in place to make it a 'cooler' experience for all.

It will still be warm, though, by the time Qatar and Ecuador line up for the opening game on 20 November - a match brought forward by 24 hours. It's not the only change, with Mexico's clash against Argentina on 26 November switched to the 80,000 Lusail Stadium - Qatar's biggest stadium - because 60,000 Mexican supporters are heading to the Gulf State.

Accommodation

In total, Qatar is set to welcome 1.3 million fans for the duration of the tournament, but not all of them will be able to stay in Qatar. Bed space is at a premium. In the capital Doha, 80% of the available rooms have been taken by FIFA, though 20,000 are expected to become available in the month before the tournament starts.

'Sleeping pods' priced at about €81 a night are another option for those who wish to stay in Qatar.

For those who would like to sample something akin to Glastonbury or Electric Picnic, tented campsites are an option, with a deluxe tent in the city of Al Kohr available for €386 per night. A downgrade from that is a stay at the Al Wakrah Camp, just think of a long line of portacabins, priced at €193 a night.

Banana Island, just off the coast of Doha, is offering beach villas above the ocean at an overnight cost of €2,900 - an attractive option so far for the