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KATHRYN BATTE: The World Cup experience in Qatar is not what England fans are used to, with office-like squeaky clean stadiums and a Hilton Hotel hangout that’s not exactly typical…while the England vs USA atmosphere was hardly thrilling
Friday night under the lights, but far from home.
From the pre-match build-up to the atmosphere on the ground, the World Cup experience in Qatar is a little different to what many England fans are used to, including myself.
Surprisingly many tickets were still available for the Three Lions’ game against the United States. The FIFA resale website releases a new batch every morning at 2am in Qatar and it was no problem picking one up in the early hours of Friday.
The World Cup experience in Qatar is proving to be different from what English fans are used to
The traveling contingency of England fans watched as England fell to a disappointing 0-0 draw with the USA
It’s fair to say that a pre-match trip to a Hilton Hotel wouldn’t be on the agenda for most football fans back home, but their sports bar in West Bay was packed with England shirts from 3pm, although the atmosphere was reasonably was relaxed. table with singing supporters.
The journey to Al Bayt stadium was long and arduous in the heat, but easy to navigate on public transport, although the airport-style security, which was only for getting to the perimeter of the stadium, felt a bit over the top.
The outside area with fans had its fair share of activity, but it wasn’t exactly ‘bouncing’ as kickoff approached. There were only a handful of people milling about outside when Ant and Dec’s “We’re on the Ball” blasted out of the speakers, followed by Vindaloo.
When an unrecognizable German tune ended the entertainment, it was time to go inside.
The Al Bayt is very similar to modern English stadiums. There were no cramped turnstiles to navigate and the hall was actually nice. It was so clean it felt more like an office or hotel than a football field.
The problem with buying a ticket at the last minute is that you’re never sure where you’ll be seated and when I got to my seat I found myself a lone Brit among a sea of Americans.
The game between England and USA took place in an almost office-like Al Bayt Stadium
Fans from both England and the United States geared up in anticipation of what was expected to be an entertaining encounter
The American fans present massively chanted ‘USA, USA, USA’ throughout the game
England’s fans were largely more morose when they saw their team underperforming
Far from intimidating, but still a little annoying. Because Americans experience football matches slightly differently than English fans. Their chant consists mainly of the classic ‘USA, USA, USA’ over and over.
Then came their song, which is often the subject of ridicule: ‘I believe that we will win’. The England fans responded with ‘what the hell was that?’
While the Americans picked up a rendition of Sweet Caroline at half-time, the England ending was quiet – because it’s not quite the same when you draw 0-0 in the second group game.
The atmosphere was far from exciting, but maybe that had more to do with the match than anything else. We needed a goal and we didn’t get it.
The atmosphere in the stadium was anything but exciting, but that was due to the quality of the game