Despite the fact that India isn’t going to be playing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, its presence has made some waves in the country. In fact, it is expected that the largest group of non-playing visitors to the World Cup will be Indians.4
In fact, many Indians have family or friends who live in Qatar. These fan clubs have been hosting events, including football tournaments, quiz competitions and rallies. Many Indians have also played a role in the build-up to the World Cup. For example, Naaji Noushi, a homemaker from Mahe in southern India, has travelled nearly two thousand kilometers to attend the World Cup.
The most popular team for Indian fans is Brazil, with the country’s most dedicated following being in Kerala. But other countries like Portugal and Argentina also have fan bases in India.
Despite India’s poor performance in the Asian World Cup qualifiers, its World Cup fever is still very strong. For example, a group of Indian fans helped open 60 food stalls at the stadium in Qatar.
The FIFA World Cup has always been a big deal in football-crazy pockets. However, it has also caused some issues for organizers. For example, some European critics have accused Qatar of racism. But the country’s government has said that the claims of racism are simply unfounded.
However, the country has also been accused of mistreatment of its migrant workers. This has sparked a debate. In the run-up to the World Cup, some “paid Indian fans” reportedly organized rallies in Doha. Qatar has vowed to improve the living standards of its workers. It has introduced minimum wages and improved working conditions.
As a result, many Indians have found work in the services sector, including tourism and hospitality. Some of the biggest companies in Qatar have Indian employees, including LuLu Group International, one of the largest retail chains in the country. Others include INOX Leisure Ltd., which operates 22 multiplexes in 15 cities across India.
It is expected that at least 1.5 million football fans will travel to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. Despite India’s poor performance, the country’s football fans will still be a large group of non-playing visitors to the tournament. The Indian diaspora will also be present as hosts. Many Indians will be working in different fields, including hospitality, tourism and logistics.
It will be interesting to see what role Indian fans will play in the tournament. According to Nelson Jos, an Indian travel consultant and founder of a destination management company called Travel Designer, he plans to handle travel needs of 500 people a day during the World Cup. Some of his goals include handling hotel bookings and excursions outside Doha.
The World Cup will begin on November 20. It will end on December 18. It is expected that at least 32 nations will compete in the tournament. The 32 teams will be divided into group stages, each of which will have three matches. The knockout stages will determine which team will win on the day. The teams may play penalty kicks or extra time to determine the winner.