Doha: CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser Al Khater said that FIFA estimates that the World Cup's returns could reach $6 billion.
Al Khater told Qatar News Agency (QNA) in a live stream on Twitter that changing the start date for the World Cup was down with the agreement of all designated bodies after it was approved by the FIFA Council and Qatar and Ecuador who will now feature in the opening match.
He added that moving the match one day early to Sunday instead of Monday was welcomed by the carriers and sponsors as well. He highlighted that the match will be the only one for that day, giving it bigger momentum and high viewership potential.
The World Cup CEO discussed some of the rumors about high accommodation prices at the World Cup, noting that some hotel rooms are selling for $80 a night at the most, with more luxurious options selling for $5478 a night, stressing that there were options at each price point.
He added that there are also villas, hotel apartments, and camping sites available and that prices are being updated regularly in light of the new supply of hotel rooms and apartments that have become available.
On ticket sales, he said that they are seeing strong demand which surprised FIFA officials. He said that Mexico Vs. Argentina was the best-selling ticket, followed by Saudi Arabia Vs. Argentina. Both tickets are sold out.
He added that the second phase of ticket sales concluded on August 16, with a new one starting in September. He stressed that officials from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) were confident that there was going to be a strong demand for tickets, thanks to Qatar's close proximity to heavily populated Asian countries like China and India, as well as some European countries. He said the total number of tickets available was 3.2 million, a third of which was allocated to sponsors and carriers.
Al Khater also welcomed GCC citizens to Qatar. He said their attendance would be a boost to the World Cup, which was important given it is the first one to be held in the Arab world.
Al Khater stressed that the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy was confident that ticket sales and demand would be very strong even though the tournament will be taking place in November and December.
He added that Stadium 974 is one of the most unique. He added that it was located in a beautiful area overlooking the Gulf, which why it was going to be disassembled, particularly as the country has tourism plans directed at this area that will be announced at a later time.
He said that criticism of the World Cup in Qatar will not disappear but noted that it has moderated recently thanks to the great efforts that the country has made and stressed that these criticisms will end once fans from all over the world start attending matches.
On precautionary measures during the World Cup, he said that the Ministry of Public Health has developed a COVID-19 plan regarding entry to Qatar. He expressed his hope that the tournament will be held in a normal atmosphere as the disease enters an endemic phase.
The CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 confirmed that Qatar's winning of the World Cup bid 12 years ago drove the country to develop its infrastructure, particularly sporting facilities. He concluded that those who visited Qatar before will notice radical changes during the World Cup, promising that fans will have an exceptional experience in Qatar.
