Qatar may house thousands of football fans in Bedouin-style tents in desert areas close to stadiums during the 2022 World Cup as tumbling oil prices have forced the tiny Gulf state to delay projects, including building hotels.
Most of the expected 500,000 fans are expected to stay in hotels and apartments but contrary to Qatar’s World Cup bid in 2010, when it said it would create more than 55,000 rooms, authorities said in January that 46,000 rooms would be ready.
FIFA’s requirement was for 60,000 rooms to be available.
Organisers are holding up the tent idea as a creative and culturally authentic way for Qatar to meet FIFA requirements.