Volgograd and Doha: reaction to the first matches of the World Cup

November 21 England played a match at the World Cup in Qatar. The Three Lions defeated Iran 6-2 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. Despite the more than successful result, the fans were not satisfied with everything in the organization of the World Cup. English fans had quite different impressions 4 years ago. Then their team met with Tunisia in Volgograd at the World Championships in Russia.

In 2022, problems began even before the start of the tournament. First of all, this is an unusual time for the championship. Fans are used to the fact that the World Cup takes place after the football season in June or July. Due to extreme heat in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup has been moved closer to winter, which has affected the schedule of many tournaments.

Some football fans are dissatisfied with the World Cup in Qatar because of the political aspect. According to them, human rights and labor migrants are violated in the Middle East state.

The FIFA World Cup has long been more than just a sporting event. For many, the World Cup is a festival that provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of another country. However, the differences between some nations turned out to be too big and not all tourists were ready for the traditions of Qatar.

In the Middle Eastern country, it is illegal to remove items of clothing or otherwise remain undressed, including without a shirt. In the monarchy of the Persian Gulf, drinking alcohol is also a violation. 2 days before the start of the championship, the government of Qatar banned the sale of beer inside the stadiums.

Newcomers faced another problem – high housing prices and its shortage. So, before the championship, a night in one of the cheapest hotels in Doha cost 64 pounds (about 4600 rubles), during the World Cup the price increased to 1659 pounds (almost 120 thousand rubles). In addition, not everyone has enough real estate – many fans have to settle in other countries – the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Just before England’s match with Iran, a few more troubles arose. Harry Kane has been banned from wearing the rainbow-colored captain’s armband, and fans have faced huge lines in front of the stadium due to a mobile ticketing app glitch, reports the Daily Express.

The meeting of the national teams was overshadowed by an unpleasant moment a few minutes before the starting whistle. The players of the Iranian team decided not to sing the anthem of their country as a sign of support for the protesters in the republic.

From the match with Tunisia in Volgograd four years ago, the British had completely different impressions.

The British government advised to be careful when traveling around Russia, but the residents of foggy Albion who arrived were delighted with Volgograd. The worst thing that foreigners had to face is midges and mosquitoes.

In 2018, the British newspaper The Guardian cited the story of two fans from Sunderland, Craig and Tommy.

The time before the game with Tunisia, they spent in a bar in the city center and practiced Russian “with helpful locals.” The British said that they spent “fantastic 3 days in Volgograd”, communicating with the townspeople and visiting historical sites.

In 2018, the hospitality of Volgograd residents was also noted by the Deputy Ambassador of Great Britain to the Russian Federation Lindsay Skoll:

“The fact that competitions are held in Volgograd is of great importance for the whole world,” the diplomat said after visiting Mamaev Kurgan. “The warmth of the welcome here was absolutely outstanding. All the fans have commented and Volgograd seems to be happy to welcome everyone.

The guests of the hero-city were satisfied with the organization of the reception:

“Simply fantastic service”, “a lot of smiles, positive attitude, everyone speaks English” – such a message was posted on the social network by journalist Graham Phillips from the UK, visiting the Volgograd fan zone.