The 2017 World Cup in Qatar is predicted to have congested roadways, according to the organizers, who also noted that handling four football matches per day in the tiny Gulf state will be challenging.
Fans will be able to watch many games in one day starting on November 20, which could be challenging given that Qatar is the smallest nation hosting the international competition, Reuters reported.
Have fun reviewing movies and drinks
“Having four matches in a day is a challenge, in a city like Doha … of course we are expecting to have congestion on the streets,” said Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, mobility director at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar’s tournament organisers.
“Therefore we are here today … to give notices and warn fans to follow certain rules.”
Al-Mawlawi urged fans to arrive early for matches with multiple people in the same car to reduce congestion. In addition, Qatar has ordered that schools be closed and that 80% of government employees work from home.
Certain vehicles have been prohibited from entering central Doha. The Corniche Street will be designated for pedestrians from November 1 to December 19, according to the plan that has been prepared to facilitate transportation during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The games will be held in eight stadiums located within 40 kilometers of central Doha. There will be four matches per day during the first two weeks of the tournament, with kickoffs scheduled between 1pm and 10pm local time.
The Hayya card, Qatar’s mandatory fan ID, will provide fans with free access to the city’s metro system, which connects the city’s two airports with five stadiums.
During the tournament, the metro will run 110 trains instead of the usual 75, stopping every 165 seconds, 21 hours a day, according to Abdulla Saif Al-Sulaiti, Chief of Service Delivery at metro operator Qatar Rail.
During the tournament, Qatar will operate over 3,100 buses, nearly four times the number of buses in the country. According to reports, 3,000 taxis and 11,500 Ubers will also be available.
Local residents are encouraged to use private transportation to get to tournament venues and drive where possible. Shuttle buses will operate from both airports and help fans reach their accommodation and tourist attractions in central Doha.
Click here to read the full transportation guide for residents and visitors ahead of this year’s FIFA World Cup 2022.
