‘Qatar World Cup will be most luxurious yet’

QATAR - A company that sells exclusive FIFA packages to the well-heeled is predicting record sales for the World Cup in Qatar, but its owner insists the tournament will be ‘good value’ for all fans.

Jaime Byrom, who has sold millions of hotel rooms over 10 World Cups, said wealthy supporters will be flocking to the tiny Gulf state from around the globe on private planes and yachts.

Byrom’s Match Hospitality has contracted 450 000 of the three million tickets for the tournament that starts November 20.

Packages range from US$700 for a top ticket with a slap-up meal, to bills of a million dollars-plus for big groups staying in top hotels and watching several matches.

Prices

Byrom refused to give the highest prices for his Pearl Lounge at the Lusail Stadium, where the December 18 final will be held.

At the lounge’s 116 seats overlooking the halfway line, guests get special gifts, the food is prepared by Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton and the

One of the luxurious Stadiums in Qatar the Al-janoub Stadium.

good maul. They are big strong boys and they love to create momentum. We have to stop that, it is easier speaking about that than doing it, but we have to make sure we don’t give them an opportunity to do that.

“One of the biggest things is our discipline, we can’t give away silly penalties so they are getting opportunities to kick into corners and set up the rolling maul.”

New Zealand have suffered from slow starts in recent tests and Whitelock said that is another area they must improve.

“Going out there and executing straight away is something we have spoken about this week. South Africa are a good side and they do squeeze you if they get in front. We don’t want to give them a seven-point head start,” he said. champagne flows. The luxury at this year’s World Cup “will exceed anything that we have delivered before”, Byrom said.

“There will be people who spare no expense to be here,” he said. “They will bring their yachts they will fly their private aircraft, they will certainly make good use of their wealth. But that’s only a minority of people.”

“There are just some people who are fortunate to have more money than others and they will have an experience that is beyond the reach of most of us and that is the way it is.”