Best travel packages for Indians traveling to Doha for FIFA World Cup 2022

• Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup across eight stadiums with an average capacity of 47,500 seats.
  
• Over 2.45 million FIFA tickets have already been sold with the next ticket window opening in September.
  
• Doha is a four hour flight from India and Indian travel agencies are offering FIFA World Cup packages.

With less than 100 days left for the world’s biggest sporting event FIFA World Cup, tickets are flying off the shelves. As many as 2.45 million tickets are already sold out for Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022, and Indians too are planning trips to Doha.

It comes as no surprise, since Doha is a four hour flight from India. Even without Indian representation, India has many football fans and the 32-team event with 65 matches across eight avenues, is taking a lot of them to Qatar.

“We have booked over 160 travel packages until now. Over 70% of the queries have come from Kolkata. Although the tickets of the most important matches are sold out, we do have executive travel packages for flight and accommodation,” said Adit Sarin, founder of LestacIndia, a travel agency in India.

Apart from LestacIndia, agencies like Fanatic Sports, Asia-based travel agency for customized sporting events and Make My Trip too have launched packages for the season.

Travel and Ticket Categories for FIFA

The average venue capacity of FIFA World Cup venues is 47,500 seats. The FIFA federation has divided the tickets into four categories. Tickets for fans are only available in the categories 1, 2 and 3 as category 4 is reserved for Qatar residents.

After the launch of the phase 1, 2 and 3 of FIFA tickets, the federation has announced the next sales phase to be launched in September. This last minute sales phase will be allocated on a first-come first serve basis.

The most expensive tickets would be from the Category 1 ticket finals costing over ₹1 lakh per person. Other categories are spread across categories 2 and 3 with the cheapest category 4 tickets only reserved for Qatar residents.

In total, 65 games will be played at the FIFA World Cup 2022. While many travelers would reside at fan villages and hotels, food can be quite expensive. The average food cost for a tourist in Doha is ₹3,800 per day.

“The public transport is free but the stay at the fan village is costly, with $70 per day only for accommodation. But we are excited nevertheless. This will be the last world cup for football mega stars Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo. Qatar world cup is extra special because underdogs like Belgium and African teams came into the limelight,” said Shilarze Saha Roy, a 35-year-old from Kolkata, India attending the world cup.

“Brazil, after a long time, will be favorites again,” added Roy.

What are the packages?

FIFA listed hotel packages starting from ₹26,934 per person. The packages can be broadly classified into three categories — premium, premium economy and economy. The ticket costs can be accessed here.

Middle and upper-middle packages

Three travel agencies in India are listed below for offering travel packages that don’t include match tickets.

Fanatic Sports, a Mumbai-based sports travel agency, has been appointed as the joint match hospitality partner in India for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022. Its packages begin from ₹75,929 with the highest price being over ₹3 lakh.

LestacIndia is offering travel packages for Indians traveling to Doha. This, however, does not include match tickets. The four-night package begins from ₹51,000 per person.

MakeMyTrip is offering five flexi packages for the world cup ranging from ₹32,000 to ₹86,000 per person.

LestacIndia packages



The cheapest range of packages offered by the company begin at ₹35,000 for three nights in Qatar by LestacIndia and MMT. Package for the same amount of nights from MMT will cost ₹32,250 per person.

LestacIndia



Premium Economy: Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways too is offering seven travel packages with tickets. This would include hotel stay in the category of one’s choice, match tickets and a cruise ship that will dock at Qatar.

Capital travel, in association with Etihad Airways, has announced flight and one-night accommodation packages for ₹18,060 excluding tickets.

The Qatar Airways ‘Support Your Team Package’ for a 13-night stay will range from over ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore. The package includes four match tickets of the fan’s favorite team, with one ticket randomly selected.

Early Groups Packages for the premium category includes a seven-night stay and three matches with residence in five star hotels of Qatar. They range from ₹6 lakh to ₹1 crore.

The round of 16 packages consist of four nights, with two matches ranging from ₹3.9 lakh to ₹5.7 lakh. Another premium package can be accessed through Indian travel agency LestacIndia.


After accessing these travel packages, there are a number of checklist documents required for travel to Qatar which have been listed below:

• Hayya Card (apply after buying a match ticket): Having Hayya will give free access to public transport in Qatar during the day of the match.

• Visa, if applicable

• Travel insurance policy

• Passport with six months validity

• Valid vaccination certificate (booster recommended)

• Covid-free certificate

The weather in Doha during November and December 2022 would be pleasant ranging from 21-30 degrees. However, the temperature across stadiums may just pick up, hence pack accordingly.

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