Qatar World Cup 2022: Fears were raised ahead of the World Cup opener. This happened after fans at a test event in Qatar were denied access to the water.
The Lusail Iconic Stadium, the largest of the eight venues that will be used during the competition in November and December, hosted the Lusail Super Cup.
There is just over two months to go before Qatar’s opening match against Ecuador. The champions from Saudi Arabia and Egypt met in the championship game in front of an estimated 78,000 spectators.
Reports from the game, which took place on Friday, include fans waiting in long lines and food stalls running out of water. Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia won the game. However, some of the reports from the coastal city suggested that football felt secondary.
Qatar World Cup 2022: What did ESPN report?
ESPN said there was no longer any water available for fans inside or outside the stadium before halftime. There were reports of people stuck in lines and begging to be let through.
The game in Lusail was designed to help organizers identify any issues that need to be resolved before the World Cup.
The spokesman stated that “all the teams involved in organizing the event received invaluable experience that they will bring to this year’s tournament.”
During the game, temperatures reportedly reached 34 degrees Celsius and high humidity. The temperature will have dropped significantly by the time the competition takes place in November.
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On Friday, former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo gave Al Hilal the lead before Ahmed Sayed equalized Zamalek. Although the score was tied, the Saudi team won on penalties.
It is not the first controversy
The World Cup, which will take place outside its usual summer window, has been plagued by controversy before. While steps have been taken to alleviate attendees’ concerns regarding accommodation, the treatment of stadium employees has drawn criticism.
More than any of the other seven Qatari stadiums, the Lusail Iconic Stadium will host 10 matches. The opening match is between Argentina and Saudi Arabia in the group stage on November 22, and the final is on December 18.
On November 21, England will play Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan to kick off their own competition. If they come second in a group that also includes Wales and the United States, their earliest possible match in Lusail is the quarter-final stage.
