Souq Waqif is the busiest market in the Qatari capital, Doha, and on the occasion of the World Cup, it has become a place where visitors and fans meet, take pictures, drink tea, and engage in sports discussions.

An article published by the British newspaper "Financial Times" stated that the fans gathered in the streets and alleys of the market, wearing their traditional costumes, and carrying sports slogans that represent the national teams of their countries or the teams they encourage, which created an opportunity for nations of different cultures to meet to enjoy football.


Wonderful thing

Fan Paul Williams, who traveled to Qatar to support the Wales national team, was quoted as saying, "When you go down to the market, you see all the people walking around from 32 different nationalities... It's very cool."

Terry John, another Welsh fan, also spoke of the negative criticism surrounding the tournament: "I think there was a lot of intimidation in the media...we had a great time."

The newspaper confirmed that the World Cup hosted by Qatar has changed the experience of fans compared to previous tournaments.

The article stated that the intense schedule allowed the visitors to meet in several matches in the space of a few days.

Some World Cup followers have also started searching for the host cities for the 2026 tournament - spread over the United States, Canada and Mexico - and now complaining about the prospect of spending hours in airports.


Friendly atmosphere

According to the Financial Times, a decision to ban the sale of alcohol around stadiums has sparked controversy in the media, but many fans say that this decision contributed to creating a less aggressive atmosphere before, during and after matches and to a friendly atmosphere.

Abu Al-Qasim, a Sudanese visitor, pointed out that the visa system in Qatar allowed more visitors to attend than would have been possible if the host country was one of the traditional footballing countries in Europe.

Omar Tayseer, a student based in Jordan, said he was welcomed by the authorities and entered the country with ease compared to previous difficulties related to entering the UK with a scholarship.

The article indicated that other fans reported feeling safe compared to their visits to other major cities to attend football events.

Benjamin Lim, a solicitor from London, said: "We weren't worried about crimes like pickpocketing, and the relative lack of alcohol also means I'm not worried about my parents who are in their 70s."


safety

Away from football, visitors were able to enjoy some of Qatar's attractions, such as driving a four-wheel drive over the sand dunes, visiting Doha museums and the carnival atmosphere in the souk.

Amine Chaiba, an Italian of Moroccan origin, said that he escaped from the "fog and cold" in his home in the Italian city of Bologna, after obtaining tickets to attend 7 matches.

"It's a family-friendly environment and a good place to bring the kids," he added.

For Chris Ayres, a financial analyst from the United States, the World Cup has "brought a lot of people together".

"It was a great experience, everything was clean and I felt absolutely safe everywhere," he said.