DOHA: Officials are expecting congested roads during the World Cup and warn that managing four soccer games a day in Doha will be a challenge, tournament organizers said on Wednesday.
A central innovation organizers promised for Qatar’s World Cup is that fans can take in multiple matches in a single day in the smallest country to host the global showpiece event, which kicks off on Nov. 20.
Qatar is expecting an unprecedented 1.2 million visitors during the month-long tournament, more than a third of the Gulf Arab state’s population of about 3 million.
“Having four matches in a day is a challenge, in a city like Doha ... of course we are expecting to have congestion on the streets,” said Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, mobility director at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar’s tournament organizers.
“Therefore, we are here today ... to give notices and warn fans to follow certain rules.”
To reduce congestion, Al-Mawlawi urged fans to travel early to matches with multiple people in the same car. Additionally, Qatar has ordered schools to close and 80 percent of government employees to work from home. It has banned certain vehicles from central Doha.
Games will take place at eight stadiums all located within 40 kilometers of central Doha. During the first two weeks of the tournament there will be four matches each day, with kickoffs scheduled between 1300 and 2200 local time.
The Hayya card, Qatar’s mandatory fan ID, will give fans free access to the metro system, which links the city’s two airports with five stadiums.
During the tournament, the metro will boost operations, laying on 110 trains instead of the usual 75 that will stop every 165 seconds, 21 hours per day, said Abdulla Saif Al-Sulaiti, Chief of Service Delivery at metro operator Qatar Rail.
Qatar will operate more than 3,100 busses during the tournament, nearly quadrupling the number of buses in the country, which is approximately the size of Jamaica. Additionally, 3,000 taxis and 11,500 Ubers will be available.
Expect World Cup congestion, amid Qatar’s ‘challenging’ four-game daily schedule, say organizers
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Expect World Cup congestion, amid Qatar’s ‘challenging’ four-game daily schedule, say organizers
- “Having four matches in a day is a challenge, in a city like Doha,” said Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi
- Games will take place at eight stadiums all located within 40 kilometers of central Doha
Dubai Basketball produce dramatic comeback win over Real Madrid
- The 93-85 victory at Coca-Cola Arena secured back-to-back EuroLeague home wins in the span of 48 hours
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball delivered another unforgettable night at Coca-Cola Arena, defeating Real Madrid 93-85 to secure back-to-back EuroLeague home wins in the span of 48 hours.
In front of a fired-up 7,000-strong home crowd, Dubai once again turned the arena into one of the most difficult venues in the competition, overpowering one of the most decorated teams in European basketball through sheer energy.
The night did not start easily for the home side. Real Madrid imposed themselves early, opening up a lead and testing Dubai’s resilience. But as the game wore on, the atmosphere inside Coca-Cola Arena began to shift. Defensive stops sparked momentum, the crowd found its voice, and Dubai surged back into the contest with renewed intensity.
Dubai flipped the game late in the third quarter, igniting the arena with a relentless run that changed the tone of the night. From there, the home side never looked back. Defensive pressure, composed execution and confidence on both ends allowed Dubai to close out the game in style, holding Real Madrid scoreless from the field for long stretches of the final quarter.
Dubai’s first signing of the new season, Dzanan Musa, led the charge against his former club with a standout performance, while McKinley Wright, Filip Petrusev and Dwayne Bacon delivered key moments at crucial stages. Dubai’s latest signing, Bruno Caboclo, made an impact on both ends, which lifted the team during the comeback, and Aleksa Avramovic controlled the tempo as Dubai powered to another statement win.
Head Coach Jurica Golemac praised both the team’s mentality and the role of the home crowd, saying, “It was an extremely tense game. The last 15 minutes, we found our rhythm and the fans gave us this extra push. Against one of the best teams in the EuroLeague, to finish like this shows our character. We believe we can beat anybody.”
The victory marks another milestone in Dubai Basketball’s debut EuroLeague season, reinforcing Coca-Cola Arena’s growing reputation as one of the toughest home courts in the league.
As the season enters its decisive phase, belief continues to build — on the court, in the stands, and across the city — with Dubai Basketball firmly in the fight for the post-regular season phase.
