World Cup teams pick 'palaces', wellness resorts, uni digs

The 32 football teams taking part in this year's World Cup will be based in copies of Arabian palaces, wellness resorts and luxury hotels where alcohol is banned, FIFA said Tuesday.

According to a list released by the sport's world governing body, 24 of the teams will be in bases -- hotels but also university lodgings -- concentrated around the capital.

All teams have chosen to stay in the tiny Gulf state for the tournament, which starts on November 18.

Defending champions France will be at the Al Messila, a resort near Doha that boasts of its "private palace setting". Villas can cost more than $2,500 a night -- not including champagne.

Germany will be in the Zulal overlooking the Gulf that bills itself as the biggest wellness resort in the Middle East. Owned by Qatar's ruling family, the resort's royal suite costs more than $10,000 a night.

Manuel Neuer and his teammates will be the furthest from Doha, a 100-kilometre (62-mile) drive to the capital.

The resort advocates "traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine" and has a strict no alcohol rule.

Zulal general manager Daniele Vastolo said a lot of the teams had visited the resort because it allowed them to be "in a bubble" away from Doha's crowds.

He added that security would also be easier as there is only one entrance.

"There will be no fans coming here bothering the guests or team to ask for photographs and autographs. So I think here they can really be isolated. "But at the same time, if they have one day that they look for distractions, they can drive to Doha."

Fans will get easier access to the Al Shamal Stadium nearby, the German training ground, which is styled on a fortress.

Belgium have chosen the Hilton Salwa on the opposite coast with its own private beach, a private