World Cup 2022: “We were ashamed to say that we were going to Qatar, but in the end we will be happy to return”

They arrived in Doha backwards and will leave the same way. The French fans who flew to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup with some misgivings, even genuine concern, at the amount of criticism the Gulf emirate was then subjected to, are today full of praise. Today, about the organization of the event and the atmosphere reigning in the city-state.

“We were ashamed to say that we were going to Qatar, we even thought of canceling the tickets. Breton tells a group of friends. But in the end we will come back happy. There is a lot of nonsense in everything that is said about this country. » 1 this Thursday^Eh In December, three couples from Saint-Bruille (Côte d’Armor) stroll through the Qatari capital’s conference center in the West Bay business district in search of tickets for the evening’s Morocco-Canada match. The venue hosts the International Federation (FIFA) ticket office and a parallel resale market, where a category 1 ticket is not sold for less than 400 euros.

it’s a whim “drunk after dinner”That the supporters of Brittany, in their fifties who work in construction, drug dealing and catering, decided to attend the World Cup, their first. The instructions of the travel agency made us think a little, Natalie testifies. We were told a very strict dress code, nothing tight and nothing above the knee. In the end, it is much more flexible than we think »adds this chef, in shorts and a black tank top.

Precise logistics

The precise logistics of the competition, with security guards every 30 meters, subway trains every minute and an armada of agents responsible for directing the slightest step of foreign visitors, also contribute to the enthusiasm of the six friends. “We never stand in line, there’s no fighting. If you forget your wallet on the table, you will definitely find it.” says Michael.

Admittedly, beneath the glittering skyscrapers of West Bay, a concentration of hypermodernity alongside which the towers of La Défense west of Paris have a delightfully old-fashioned air, one soon becomes dazzled. And minimize or forget the things that caused controversy before the tournament, such as the many deaths on construction sites and the very high carbon footprint of this planetary event.

“We suffer from the ecological spirit, we must constantly wipe ourselves”Michelle complains. “This metro is very nice, it’s not the strike type”Natalie dares. The latter does not know that workers in Qatar do not have the right to stop working and that anyone who risks doing so, even being condemned for non-payment of wages, may be deported.