I wanted to start my first post of 2023, sharing my experience on the biggest sporting event last year the 2022 FIFA World Cup that was played in Qatar with participation of 32 national teams and millions of spectators going to Qatar for the first time to catch one of the matches. Personally I always wanted to attend an Olympic and a World Cup so being in the region during this time was a great opportunity to try and catch a game and feel the energy of the world most played gamed game in the biggest stage the World cup. On a separate note the event was also huge in Dubai and in our office, here some pics for the fun at work, including the biggest Pringles execution (picture included)

From a competition perspective, the full event is one of the most interesting World Cup I have seen. With good moments in the different stages: Saudi win vs. Argentina in group play, South Korea last minute goal versus Portugal to punch the ticket to round of 16, Morocco run to semifinals, and the Argentina victory in penalties over France to win the cup. This world cup deliver tons of emotion and great stories that will make it memorable for many years.

There was a lot of talk on how well organized was the event and if this small country would be able to host, Qatar a nation of approximately 3 million people, biggest producer of liquified natural gas is the smallest country to ever hold the event. The size of the country and the distance from the different stadiums made it a very singular World Cup where you could watch multiple live games on the same day (very difficult in other editions), also the size of the country provided multiple challenges like transportation, and lodging. With this challenges places like Dubai took advantage and prepared to be an alternate location to Qatar making it easy for people to make a day trip and participate in the event.

When I move to Dubai, for sure going to the world cup was on the scope. I was part of the FIFA lottery for tickets but did not win one of those coveted email saying your are a fortunate fan to buy tickets, also did not had luck on the secondary market, it was shaping to be tragic that being so close could not attend the event. Then a miracle happen, or a good friend happen… I was contacted by a friend coming to the region and stopping in Qatar to see a couple of games and also stop in other places like Dubai to explore the region, we started chatting and he connected me to a person with tickets… Eureka first part was checked – tickets to see Mexico vs Saudi last game of group play… what a great opportunity. Just want to send a big thanks to my friend Juan for this (Pic below with him, wives, and friends), is was great not only going to the World Cup but also meeting him in Dubai for a drink.

Now that we had tickets to the game, next will be buying air tickets to Doha. Close to the start of the event, both flydubai and Qatar airways setup shuttle flights (Up to 24 hours in Qatar) from Dubai World Central, second airport that serves Dubai. With more than 30 flights a day it was a great way to participate and not have the hassle of check in in a hotel and all the additional expenses. We decided to buy tickets in Qatar Airways, leaving 4PM and returning 4AM on November 30 to watch the Mexico vs Saudi game at 10PM in the Lusail stadium.

Gameday arrived and the adventure began, it was crazy see only Doha flights in the airport monitors (All the roads lead to the World Cup). The 1hr flight was on time and with great energy from all the fans there, mostly people from Argentina and Mexico on the flight, everyone talking about the scenarios and how they think their teams are going to the next round. During the months event Doha would receive in excess of 25,000 people daily, imagine the planning to get all the people efficiently in and out of the country. Once we arrived to the airport, migration was a breeze 15-20 minutes tops, live entertainment was outside the terminal so the energy was impressive.

We had enough time to land in the stadium and see the surrounding areas, it was great that the game would be in Lusail Stadium where the facility and the city were built for the event. After exciting the airport we decided to use their metro to move and what a great decision it was, not only the ease and the cost (free) but it was also the adrenaline of seeing people from the different countries cheering for their teams. Saudi fans were fantastic not only in numbers but also the positive energy they brought to the stadium, it was fun how fans form different teams cheer loudly but respectfully with each other. We had Mexico shirts and they were very respectful and friendly, it was a bit party!!!! One of the highlight in the metro was meeting “Pulpito” a Colombian fan that did not lose the opportunity to go and see the world cup, even tough Colombia was not there.

After arriving in the Lusail stadium, it was an easy walk to the stadium and the surroundings. We decided to have something to eat before the game so main street was the place, thousand of people in the streets cheering and chanting in favor of their teams. There were many restaurants and shops, so after deciding a restaurant we order some food to eat at a bench in the street, here one of the crazy things this guys build in Qatar: the benches had AC, also in the streets there was cold air flowing from the bottom to keep people fresh… Crazy insane. First time I have seen this, I had already read that the stadiums had full air conditioning in the seats but in the street. It was memorable.

Entering the stadium was easy and the ticket was digital, no issue there. Lusail stadium was the place where the final happened. What a great place to held the final, is a 80,000 plus spectator stadium but there are many entrances around the stadium so people get in and out very easy. Once inside many employees supporting to get to your seats, for us was in the Mexican side in the back of one of the goal. People ready for the game, and after the singing of the anthems we got game and what a game it was. Mexico needed to score goals to had a chance and get into the roud of 16, after a 0-0 at the half, we were part of one of the most exciting 2nd half I have seen. Mexico push and got a couple of goals, and they continue pushing until the end, they were very close but at the end was a bitter end 2-1 victory. What a game, after so much intensity it was like running a marathon.

Getting back from the game to the airport was also very easy, taking the metro again we went directly and since the boarding pass where given at the initial check in it was an easy check in to the terminal. In the terminal you got to see fans coming back from their games and sharing stories, football was not finished.

For us the experience was excellent, all the elements of the experience where spectacular: Flight on time and great migration process in both Dubai and Doha, transportation to and from the game in the metro was clean and efficient, Lusail city experience pre and post game with great food and entertainment, unique game experience with great fans from both Mexico and Saudi Arabia. The time and money was well worth it, I am thankful for the opportunity to live this experience and to any fan of football would encourage to go and be in a world cup. I for sure will try to be in FIFA World Cup 2026 in MEX/USA/CAN

It was not the result we wanted in the game but the experience was better than planned. Thanks for reading the post, and I hope you have the opportunity to live an experience as cool as the FIFA World Cup. Please share the link, sign in to receive our new posts; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….