MOROCCO FANS HAPPY WITH THEIR TEAM, HAPPY WITH QATAR 2022
OVER the past few days, the streets of Doha have witnessed great crowds of fans. Coming from all over the world, they can be seen enjoying an unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup marked by events and activities of diverse kinds in an atmosphere of love, peace, safety and security. Qatar has successfully delivered to the world more than it promised.
Morocco fans are among those seen enjoying their time here with the Atlas Lions, their national team, which has amazed the world with its performance so far. Speaking to Qatar Tribune, they expressed great happiness at their team’s performance and their love for the state of Qatar, for organising a dazzling event the like of which the world had never seen.
From Corniche to Bidaa, Lusail to Souq Waqif, they turned up in large numbers as did fans of other nationalities, wearing beautiful and distinctive costumes in the colours of their respective teams, amid a wonderful atmosphere of enthusiasm and camaraderie as well as competition.
While the events accompanying the World Cup being held throughout Qatar, the fan zones, the Corniche and Souq Waqif are the beating heart of the tournament, a group of Morocco fans said. “When you watch matches in one of these places, you feel like you are in the stadium. The atmosphere is equally charged”, they added.
The fan zones have many activities and performances, including musical events, which make the atmosphere cheerful, with people dancing and having fun. As people of all nationalities gather in these places, there is also opportunity to get acquainted with other cultures and opinions.
Dana Younnis, a Moroccan fan, said: “I came from Morocco with my family to spend the World Cup period here, enjoy the events and the atmosphere of the matches and support our national team. It is wonderful. The events are so plentiful that you can visit a different new special event every day. The atmosphere in the fan zone at Al-Bidaa Park is fantastic.
“The atmosphere is extraordinary. We have a lot of events and activities. The month we are spending here is so wonderful. I walk the streets every day and sleep only for a few hours, because I don’t want to miss any event. I try to enjoy the atmosphere of the World Cup as much as possible, because this is an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime, we must enjoy it”.
Sana Qadri another Moroccan fan said: “Life in Qatar is beautiful, and the atmosphere since the beginning of the month is like no other. Doha is beautifully decorated, events are being held everywhere, and the atmosphere great.” Praising the facilities for the fans and organisation of the World Cup matches, Qadri said that Qatar 2022 will go down as the best edition of the World Cup ever. This tournament is special and unique. “We support all Arab national teams, especially the Moroccan national team”, she said.
“I did not hesitate to come to Qatar with my friends to cheer on our national team and support it during the World Cup. I liked Qatar very much, I liked the organisation, cleanliness, security, hospitality and good reception,” she added.
Ruqaya bin Harith said: “Since the start of the tournament, I have been watching the matches in the fans’ zone. I have chosen it because it is different from the rest of the places. There are many areas that display the matches and have large screens, but at the Al-Bidaa Park fan zone you will find people from different nationalities who have come specifically to encourage their teams and feel the atmosphere of the tournament in a different and distinctive way.”
The Doha Corniche is one of the most important landmarks hosting a series of entertainment events aimed at fans from all over the world. It is witness to a distinctive carnival atmosphere along the 6-kilometre stretch from Sheraton Doha hotel to the Museum of Islamic Art Park. Visitors can be seen enjoying artistic performances and cultural activities, getting a taste of different types of food and beverages or making purchases from shops.
For Abdulrahman Mahdi, the Doha Corniche is the first entertainment destination due to the festive carnival atmosphere and entertainment and cultural programmes full of unique activities. It has events for all members of the family in designated mass event areas and fan zones. He pointed out that water shows synchronised with sound and visual effects add to the excitement and fun.
Mohammed Yaghi, a Palestinian-American who is a Morocco fan, expressed his happiness to be in Doha to support the team he loves, noting that this is the first time he has visited Qatar. “It is really a beautiful, clean country. The people are welcoming and friendly. We visited many places including Souq Waqif and Doha Corniche, and attended one of the matches at Al Bayt Stadium. Indeed, the stadium is wonderfully designed.”