Qatar promises financially ‘affordable’ World Cup

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be "accessible" financially for supporters, according to Hassan Al-Thawadi, head of the organizing committee [COURTESY]

The 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar will be "accessible" financially for supporters, promised the head of the organizing committee on Wednesday, fearing that a recession following the coronavirus pandemic would prevent supporters from making the trip.

"We have always said, from day one, that it will be an accessible competition. We want everyone who wants to be able to come to the World Cup," said Hassan Al-Thawadi.

"We demonstrated during the Club World Cup (in 2019, note), by welcoming supporters from all the participating clubs, that the stay was accessible from the point of view of flights, from the point of view of accommodation", a- he assured during a videoconference.

He admitted, however, that he was worried about a global recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which could cause supporters to give up traveling to Qatar during the World Cup in the fall of 2022.

"We are entering a recession, and there is no doubt that there are concerns about the global economy, and the ability of supporters to pay for the trip," said Hassan Al-Thawadi.

"The problem we have today is what will the recovery look like?", He said.