The number of World Cup visitors during the first two weeks was 765,000, failing the country’s expectation for an influx of 1.2 million, according to the organizers’ report.
The peak period for international visitors was on November 24-28, when 32 teams played four matches every day, and a huge increase in visitors is unlikely with only eight teams staying in Doha, and eight games left out of 64 tournaments since November 20.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) reported 765,859 international visitors during the first 17 days of the World Cup and reported 1.33 million registered match ticket holders and sold tickets across the eight stadiums of 3.09 million, the tournament in Qatar that ends on December 18.
The tournament in Qatar was the first to be held in the Middle East, and was considered one of the most expensive in terms of hotels, tickets, and alcohol sales, which were restricted.
The visitor’s entry represents a 25% boost to the country’s resident population of 3 million, of which Qataris are only 10-12%.
At the first 52 matches attendance was 2.65 million. FIFA said that stadium attendance in Qatar had exceeded attendance at stadiums compared with the previous 2018 World Cup in Russia.