Qatar World Cup: Fans settle into 'Portacabin city' after chaotic start

Supporters make the most of Doha's Cabins Free Zone, where a two-bedroom stay is $207 a night

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World Cup supporters have settled in at one of Doha's makeshift fan villages after widespread problems in the opening days of the tournament.

The arrival of thousands of fans — many of them during the night — to the $207-per-night Fan Village Cabins Free Zone led to chaos, organisers admitted.

On Wednesday, the makeshift village was running more smoothly as supporters settled in — some for lengthy stays to cheer their countries on.

Located south of Doha, the village is made up of shipping containers turned into more than 4,000 two-bedroom cabins with bathrooms.

We had a lot of people arriving a whole day before, at 2am, and their booking was the next day. People without rooms are fighting, asking us where they will sleep. Finally, everything is going smoothly

Jassim Al Emadi,
managing director of operations, Cabins Free Zone

“The rooms are OK,” said Alex Lopez, a fan from Mexico who had arrived the previous day. “They have enough to live here for a few days but the staff don't seem very prepared.

“They gave me a room that was taken by someone else. They gave me the key, I opened the door and someone was in there. I showed him my key and we had the same one.”

His sister Magdalena Lopez, who flew in from Belgium to join him as part of their family tradition, offered a brief tour of the cabin.

“The twin beds are comfortable enough, there is a wardrobe too,” she said. “There is not a lot of space but for a few days, it is fine for us.”

Elsewhere on site, guests had mixed reviews of the Fan Village, with the negative mostly focusing on organisational aspects rather than the quality of the rooms.

The Free Zone Fan Village in Doha is a popular place for people on a budget to stay for the World Cup. All photos: Sarah Forster / The National

Technical issues at check-in mean that queues during the hottest part of the day can be lengthy

Each cabin has two single beds

All cabins come with en suite bathroom including shower, toilet, sink and mirror

The AC unit runs continuously and there is a fan attached to the wall to keep the room cool

Thirty-five kiosks provide a variety of food and drink to guests

Guests also have access to a 24-hour supermarket, chemist, WiFi and laundry service

This Fan Village can accommodate 12,000 people at one time

Once the World Cup is over, the cabins will be donated by the Qatari government to refugee camps overseas

Omar Garoot, 32, a Saudi mechanical engineer, praised the atmosphere at the fan Village

There are two big screens showing all the matches for guests without tickets to the games

On sale at the supermarket is this 799-riyal ($220) replica of the World Cup trophy

“We arrived yesterday and there was no room available for us, so we got taken somewhere else for the night,” said visiting Scot, Duncan Smith, 65, who was there to support Canada with his son.

“Now we are here, it is fine. The AC is always running, as is the water. It is good for what it is.”

Throughout the day, queues at the numerous check-in desks were often backed up 20 metres to the edge of the road, with first thing in the morning being the best time to beat the rush.

“A few people have told us they were given the option to take a room that hadn't yet been cleaned,” said Mr Smith.

“I would have taken an uncleaned room over being taken to another facility, personally.”

'Finally, it is running smoothly'

There are several fan villages available in Qatar, with prices going all the way up to $1,023 at the Fan Village Heenat Salma, an eco-farm and camp located in Shahaniya, north-west of Doha.

This particular fan village next to the Free Zone Metro Station can host up to 12,000 people and cabins cost $207 a night.

There is a 24-hour supermarket on site, alongside a pharmacy and 35 food kiosks, and the fan village comes with Wi-Fi and housekeeping services every three days. There is a laundry service and a secure location to leave luggage for those without time to check in before heading to a match.

Jassim Al Emadi, managing director of operations for the site, said a combination of technical issues and people arriving before their booking date had caused some problems, so they were keeping 10 per cent of rooms vacant for contingency reasons.

“We are having a lot of people arriving before their stay date, a whole day before. They arrive at 2am and their booking is the next day,” he said.

“People without rooms are fighting, asking us where they will sleep, so we are trying to manage some tents for people and some food and water while they wait for their real booking time.

“Finally, it's now managed and everything is going smoothly.”

Aside from initial snags, there is no denying the jovial atmosphere of the Fan Village. As guests gather around the big screens to lay back on bean bags and watch a game, it does give a familiar 'World Cup vibe'.

“The atmosphere is absolutely amazing here,” said Omar Garoot, 32, a mechanical engineer from Saudi Arabia.

“Everyone who wants to see Qatar, I recommend they come here to see this fan village. We celebrated until 10pm last night.

“The room is basic, clean but the room is only for sleeping. Starbucks, supermarket, restaurants, it is all provided.”

Once the tournament is over, Mr Al Emadi said the two-bedroom cabins would be sent abroad and donated to those in need.

“All of these [cabins] will be donated to refugee camps by the government of Qatar,” he said. “They will stay as bedrooms and be donated to countries in need, such as Syria and Pakistan.

“We are proud to be part of this project and thank the Qatari government for doing it. The target was to provide somewhere with a good price and a good atmosphere for the fans.”

World Cup fans in Doha: in pictures

Senegal supporters cheer during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match against the Netherlands at the Al Thumama Stadium near Doha. AFP

This Iranian fan can't watch as England hammered his country's team 6-2. Bloomberg

Iran supporters make a point before the match with England at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. EPA

England fans en route to the game against Iran. EPA

England fans ... or is it Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford? Getty Images

Party time for Qatar supporters before the opening World Cup match against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha. The high spirits fizzled out as Qatar lost 2-0. AFP

These Ecuador fans are dreaming big. AFP

USA supporters wave the stars and stripes before playing Wales, at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Umm Al Afaei, a match that was drawn 1-1. AP

Wales fans show their support during the match against the USA at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. Getty Images

Even this Diego Maradona mask could have been left red-faced after Argentina succumbed 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in a shock result in Lusail. AFP

Argentina's supporters cheer before the start of the Group C football match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Saudi Arabia fans celebrate their team's victory over Argentina. AFP

Many Saudi Arabia fans couldn't believe their historic win over Argentina. AFP

Masked Mexican supporters arrive for the World Cup match against Poland at Stadium 974. AFP

A France supporter holds a mock rooster in the run-up to the match against Australia at Al Janoub Stadium. AFP

People dance at an official US football fan party at the Budweiser World Club in Doha. AP

A fan waves the Brazilian national flag in Doha, during the opening day of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. AFP

Fans watch the opening match on Doha Corniche. Getty Images

Eyes fixed on the screen at Doha Corniche. Getty Images

A young football fan on the Doha Corniche. Getty Images

An Argentina fan in triumphant pose before the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador. Getty Images

Fans watch at Doha Corniche. Getty Images

Football fans meet La'eeb, the Qatar World Cup mascot, at the Lusail Boulevard fan area. La'eeb is an Arabic word for a hotshot footballer. Getty Images

Football fans in Argentina colours at the Lusail Boulevard fan area. Getty

Qatar fans make the Souq Waqif marketplace in Doha their own before the 2022 World Cup kicks off. AFP

Crowd control by Qatari police officers at the Fifa fan zone in Doha. AP

Celebration party time at the Fifa World Cup 2022 Qatar fan festival in Al Bidda Park, Doha. Getty

Fans at the opening of the Fifa fan festival. Reuters

A young Brazil fan at the Souq Waqif marketplace in Doha. AFP

Saudi Arabia fans arrive in Qatar for the Fifa World Cup. Reuters

Good to be here: a Mexico fan arrives in Qatar. Reuters

Fan wears an image of Argentina's Lionel Messi close to his heart. Reuters

A low-key Mexico fan brings a replica World Cup to Qatar. Reuters

Brazil fans gather outside the Westin Doha Hotel & Spa in Doha to welcome their team to Qatar. AFP

Many people attend the Fifa fan festival opening day at Al Bidda Park in Doha. AFP

Many people attend the Fifa fan festival opening day at Al Bidda Park in Doha. AFP

A young fan at Souq Waqif ahead of the World Cup in Doha, Qatar. Reuters