HOME SUPPORT Qatar’s soccer team in training session on the eve of its World Cup match against Canada on June 17 in Vancouver, British Columbia. —AP
VANCOUVER, British Columbia—Qatar brought a cheering section to the World Cup by treating a big contingent of supporters to an all-expenses-paid trip to North America.
Some 1,000 Qatari fans have descended on Vancouver, via jets chartered by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ahead of Thursday’s match against Canada.
The fans are staying at posh hotels, including the Fairmont and the JW Marriott Parq. They’ve been turning heads downtown, breaking out traditional darbuka drums.
“To start with I would love to thank everyone who went the additional mile and made the journey out here,” captain Abdulaziz Hatem said. “We’re very aware of the responsibility. We’re going to do whatever it takes for them to go away the stadium blissful and for them to be happy with us.”
Qatar’s Social and Sport Contribution Fund partnered with the Persian Gulf nation’s soccer federation to pay for the “Qatari Fans Delegation Program” for the World Cup.
The fund covers flights, hotels and native transportation and other perks.
The federation said the aim was to create “a vibrant stadium atmosphere that may help push the players toward the very best possible results on the worldwide stage.” Qatari students in america and Canada were also invited to attend the matches.
Faring higher this time
Qatari fans are sure to be heavily outnumbered by red-clad Canadians at BC Place.
A significant exporter of natural gas and oil, Qatar has a population of some 3.2 million. It hosted the World Cup in 2022 and made its first appearance within the tournament, becoming the primary host country to lose all of its group matches.
Qatar has fared higher this time. Boualem Khoukhi scored on a header in stoppage time to provide the Qataris a surprising 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Santa Clara, California.
Canada also earned its first World Cup point with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina last Friday in Toronto. Cyle Larin scored the tying goal within the 78th minute.
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