Qatar Eases COVID Restrictions Ahead of the World Cup—But Will Fans Attend?

Just weeks before over 1 million soccer fans are set to arrive in Qatar for the month-long World Cup, the host country has announced the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions.

Qatar’s Health Ministry has declared that starting November 1, travelers flying into the country will no longer need to present COVID-19 PCR or rapid-antigen test results, regardless of vaccination status. The ministry has also removed the requirement to register on the Ehteraz contact-tracing app, except for those entering healthcare facilities. Travelers who test positive in Qatar must self-isolate for seven days.

Health experts have indicated that the World Cup, taking place from November 20 to December 18, will mark the largest gathering of spectators since the pandemic began. Qatar anticipates about 1.2 million foreign visitors during the tournament—significantly fewer than the 3.03 million who attended the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This decline is partly attributed to Qatar's smaller size and the late easing of restrictions, which may have discouraged potential attendees.

Around half a million nonresidents are expected to arrive in the compact Gulf Arab nation, slightly smaller than Connecticut, during the peak of the games. Throughout the World Cup, 32 international teams will compete in 64 matches across eight stadiums in and around Doha.

Despite a lower turnout compared to previous World Cups, Qatar's tourism infrastructure will still face challenges. With only around 29,000 hotel rooms available, three large cruise ships will be stationed in the harbor to provide additional accommodations, including the MSC World Europa, which will have its naming ceremony in Doha on November 13 before embarking on its inaugural journey after the tournament. Some attendees will also travel in from nearby states like Dubai, with FlyDubai planning up to 30 flights each way during the World Cup, a short 45-minute flight.

The stadiums for the 2022 World Cup will operate at full capacity without any COVID-related social distancing or capacity restrictions, with approximately 3 million tickets available for the tournament. In contrast, just 16 months ago, the European Championship was held across the continent, where some venues were limited to just 25 percent capacity due to local COVID regulations.

Travelers heading to Qatar have been advised, including information available on the health ministry's website, to secure travel insurance and ensure they are up to date on COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.