World Cup

BRITS travelling to the World Cup in Qatar later this month face being stung with sky-high prices of up to £80 a pint.Between 3,000 and 4,000 England fans are expected to travel to Qatar for the World Cup group stages, with more set to follow if Gareth Southgate’s side reaches the knockout stages.

The Irish Pub in Qatar promises beer, pool, and the ‘perfect pint of Guinness’Credit: instagram/@mrapp2018
Pints in Champions Sports Bar cost between £8 and £9Credit: instagram/@eating.with.mrsb
Mulberry Tavern offers fish and chips for homesick BritsCredit: instagram/@rachelannmorris71
Some 3-4,000 England fans are set to travel to the World Cup for the group stagesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Welsh supporters will fly out to cheer on their side, who have qualified for their first World Cup since 1958.
This year’s tournament is the first to take place in winter – due to Qatar’s inhospitable desert climate – and the event has been wracked with controversy since it was announced in 2010.
Some 6,500 migrant workers have died in the construction of the World Cup infrastructure – working out at 101 for every match played in the tournament.
On Tuesday, disgraced former FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter – who originally awarded Qatar the World Cup – admitted the decision had been a mistake.
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Unlike relatively-relaxed Dubai some 200 miles away, Qatar has tougher restrictions on who can buy alcohol and where.
Beer, wine, and spirits are largely restricted to purchase at restaurants linked to high-end hotels.
Foreign residents who earn more than 3,000 Qatari riyals per month can apply for a licence to buy alcohol from shops, an option that isn’t open to visitors.
Public drunkenness is technically illegal and those found guilty face up to six months jail time and a fine of 3,000 riyals.
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However, in reality, Qatari officials often turn a blind eye to expats getting drunk, as long as they stay within the restaurants and hotels.
The Middle-Eastern country’s strict laws on alcohol, coupled with its expensive prices, mean it’s not the easiest place to plan a pub crawl.
Qatari organisers initially said they wanted the World Cup to be alcohol-free, but quickly backed down.
Instead, some fanzones will sell “international beverages”, and supporters will be able to buy beer inside the stadium perimeter in special “beer areas” up to three hours before each game.
However, they won’t be able to take drinks into the stands and spaces will be created to “sober up” inebriated supporters.
Qatar’s World Cup chief executive, Nasser Al Khater said: “There are plans in place for people to sober up if they’ve been drinking excessively.
“It’s a place to make sure that they keep themselves safe, they’re not harmful to anybody else.”
Fans also can’t bring any booze into the country, and authorities will confiscate any alcohol in travellers’ luggage.
The drug also has a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, and any fans caught smuggling cocaine into the country could face the death penalty.
There are plans in place for people to sober up if they’ve been drinking excessivelyNasser Al KhaterChief executive, Qatar World Cup
Meanwhile, drinks giant Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide – which owns many of the world’s most popular beer brands including Becks, Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois – is training up to 6,000 workers in Qatar to be able to pour a pint properly.
The company says it expects a typical yearly amount of beer in Qatar will be consumed in the majority Muslim country during the four-week tournament, which kicks off on November 20.
With no breweries in the region, beer was shipped to the country by ocean freight and stored in refrigerated warehouses to protect it from the blistering heat, as temperatures can still reach 30 degrees in November.
Trucks will be loaded overnight indoors and then sent to restaurants and fan areas.
“Beer is a perishable product, so it’s always best the day it’s packed,” the company’s chief supply officer Peter Kraemer told Bloomberg in a recent interview.
“We manage our supply chain very closely for the amount of time that it takes for products to get from point A to point B, and then also the conditions under which they’re shipped to preserve the taste of the beer.”
Bars and restaurants have been asked to order all their alcohol for the tournament months in advance.
Kraemer said that the company also has a back-up plan if fans drink more than expected – with packages of bottles and cans ready to be filled at a UK brewery and shipped to Qatar at short notice.
However, the experience is unlikely to be like any previous World Cup.
Some of those who travel face stays in desert camps for hundreds of pounds, and may even have to base themselves in a neighbouring country due to the shortage of affordable accommodation in Qatar.
Sports bars have been accused of exploiting visitors by charging fans up to £240 each to watch the World Cup semi-finals and finals.
The stunning price includes a three-drink voucher for bottles of Budweiser or Corona or a glass of house wine – working out at £80 a drink.
But with the tiny nation preparing for the booziest event in its history, The Sun Online has put together the cheapest pub crawl possible in Qatar.
A roast dinner at the Shamrock Tavern in DohaCredit: instagram/@doha_deals
The Hudson Tavern is based at the Mondrian Hotel in QatarCredit: instagram/@hitmfe
Champions Sports Bar in Doha is charging £240 each to watch the gamesCredit: instagram/@champions_doha
The Irish Harp is one of several ‘Irish-themed’ bars in the cityCredit: irishharpdoha
The Red Lion in Doha also offers bangers and mash as well as fish and chipsCredit: Facebook/@theredliondoha
PUBLIC HOUSE
Advertising itself as “Doha’s Retro American Diner & Sports Bar,” Public House is based in the Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel on The Pearl, an artificial island in the Persian Gulf.
A pint of Heineken will set you back 40 Qatari riyal (QR), or around £9.50.
MULBERRY TAVERN
A “modern gastropub”, Mulberry Tavern is also based on Pearl Island in the Hilton Doha.
A 500ml beer (a UK pint is 570ml) costs 61 QR (£14.48).
However, it does offer happy hours when draft Carlsberg, Stella and Heineken are a slightly more reasonable 39 QR (£9.26).
Happy hour is Monday from opening until midnight and Friday through Wednesday from opening until 8pm.
THE IRISH HARP
Doha has a surprising number of Irish-themed pubs, including The Irish Harp, based in the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.
The pub offers a daily happy hour from 5-8pm, during which time Budweiser, Carlsberg, Guinness, Heineken, Hoegaarden, Leffe Blonde, and Stella all go for 38 QR (£9.02).
CHAMPIONS SPORTS BAR
Making the bold claim to be “the best sports bar in town,” the Champions Sports Bar is rare for Qatar in being a bar not based inside a western hotel.
Although during World Cup games, the £240 cost will put many off, the bar is slightly more reasonable outside of these hours.
A draught Budweiser, Carlsberg, Guinness, Hoegaarden, or Stella costs between 34 and 37 QR (£8.07-£8.78).
THE HANGOUT PUB
The Hangout Pub is located in Doha’s Grand Regal Hotel, on the main road heading to Hamad International Airport.
It also promises happy hours between 3 and 8pm, during which time pints of Heineken and Budweiser are 34 QR (£8.07).
THE SHAMROCK TAVERN
Another “Irish-themed” pub, the Shamrock Tavern is based in Magnum Hotel in the West Bay area of Doha.
During happy hour – Saturday to Thursday 12-8pm – beers are 30 percent off.
Draught beer costs between 32-34 QR (£7.60-£8.07), making it the cheapest pint we found in Doha so far.
‘Fan Villages’ where some supporters will be put up due to a shortage of accommodationCredit: Reuters
Qatar is making the final preparations for this month’s World CupCredit: AFP
StrEAT CULTURE
Slightly off the beaten track in the outskirts of Doha, StrEAT Culture is based in the city’s DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.
Beers are 45 QR (£10.68), but the bar offers a daily happy hour between 5 and 8pm.
It also offers a “Ladies Night” on Wednesday and Saturday between 8 and 11pm, during which time women can get unlimited refills on certain drinks for 69 QR (£16.56).
Also, unusually, the bar offers a “Gents Night” on Tuesday between 5pm and 1am, when men can buy one beer and get a second free.
THE RED LION PUB
The Red Lion Pub is based in the Al Mansour Suites Hotel in the Al Mansoura region of southern Doha.
Pints are between 49 and 52 QR (£11.76-£12.48), while homesick Brits can also order some pub grub staples.
Bangers and mash or fish and chips will set you back 65 QR (£15.60) each.
THE HUDSON TAVERN
Another hotel-based bar, the Hudson Tavern is based in the Mondrian in Doha on The Pearl development.
Fish and chips cost 90 QR (£21.37).
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THE IRISH PUB
A third Irish-themed offering, The Irish Pub is based on the 14th floor of the Best Western Plus hotel in Doha.
It promises “the perfect pint of Guinness,” while a Sunday roast costs 80 QR (£19.21). More

CROATIA have announced their 26-man squad for the World Cup – with only five survirors from the team that beat England in 2018.Four years ago, Mario Mandzukic’s extra-time strike sent the Three Lions home at the semi-final stage and the Vatreni into their first major final.
Mario Mandzukic scored the winner as Croatia knocked England out in 2018Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Zlatko Dalict has named just players from starting XI that beat EnglandCredit: Twitter / @HNS_CFF
Ultimately, a Kylian Mbappe-inspired France ended their dream following a 4-2 victory at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
But Croatia are back for more after topping their qualification group.
And Zlatko Dalic’s side will be hoping to go one better and win the tournament for the first time.
However, they’ve left out more than half of the starting XI from the 2-1 win over England.
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Semi-final hero Mandzukic retired from international football and is therefore not involved.
Meanwhile, despite still playing regularly for Sevilla, Ivan Rakitic hung up his Croatian boots in 2019.
But 37-year-old Luka Modric, who recently confirmed that Qatar will be his final World Cup, has been picked, as has Tottenham’s Ivan Perisic.
The other survivors from the game are ex-Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida and Inter Milan star Marcelo Brozovic.
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Croatia has been drawn in a testing group alongside Belgium, Canada and Morocco.
And the 2018 finalists get their campaign underway against Morocco on 23 November. More

GARETH SOUTHGATE is set to name a whole host of World Cup debutants when he confirms his squad for Qatar tomorrow.The Three Lions side that reached the semi-finals in Russia four years ago featured the likes of Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy and Ashley Young – none of whom are in contention this time around.

Mason Mount and Phil Foden are set to go to their first World CupCredit: Getty
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice were not around the England fold yet in 2018Credit: Getty
In their place will be plenty of young, fresh talent – with expectations high on England despite their awful Nations League campaign.
Jordan Pickford starred between the sticks in 2018, but Arsenal No1 Aaron Ramsdale will get his first taste of World Cup football this time around.
His Gunners team-mate Ben White is likely to be there too, as well as star man Bukayo Saka.
Conor Coady’s excellent Everton form should clinch him a place in his first World Cup squad, while Fikayo Tomori’s AC Milan exploits may be enough to secure a place on the plane.
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Neither Declan Rice nor Jude Bellingham were in Russia, with the latter only 14-years-old when the 2018 squad was announced.
James Maddison has only earned one cap for the Three Lions, a substitute appearance against Montenegro three years ago.
But his sensational form for Leicester this season, during which he has scored six goals and assisted a further four in 12 Prem outings, has put him right in the mix.
It’s difficult to remember a Southgate England side without Mason Mount or Phil Foden – such is the senior status that they both appear to hold now.
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But neither were named in 2018 – the former having just enjoyed a loan spell at Vitesse and the latter still a young fringe player at Manchester City at the time.
Both will get their first tastes of World Cup action in Qatar.
Harry Kane won the Golden Boot in Russia and will look to repeat the feat this time around – but his cast of back-ups is likely to change somewhat.
Vardy and Danny Welbeck deputised for him on that occasion – but now Tammy Abraham is in pole position to be first back-up.
During the last World Cup, Abraham was back at Chelsea after a mixed loan spell at Swansea.
Callum Wilson, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney will also be hoping to make the plane for their first World Cup experience.
Tammy Abraham could deputise for Harry KaneCredit: Getty More

PEP GUARDIOLA has slammed the “crazy World Cup” and would totally understand some of his Manchester City squad having one eye on the showpiece in Qatar.The first ever winter edition of the tournament gets underway later this month.
Pep Guardiola is fuming about the winter World CupCredit: Getty
Despite the first game kicking off in just 11 days, City still have two fixtures left before the season pauses.
They host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup tonight before Brentford travel to the Eithad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

Reece James and Sadio Mane are the latest big names set to miss out in Qatar through injury and Guardiola fears for the welfare of his players.
“We have a crazy World Cup and the players can’t rest,” he said. “The players have one eye on the World Cup.
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“If you got an injury against Brentford, it’s not going to change anything in terms of winning the Premier League or not, but you’re going to miss the World Cup.
“I had to tell the guys to be focused a month ago, but now it’s around the corner.
“We play Saturday and on Sunday they have to be with the national team.
“I’m pretty sure that will be in the players’ minds. I would be the same.”
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When asked about the availability of his players post-Qatar, Guardiola joked that some of his staff might end up getting a game.
He added: “It’s better not to think about it.
“If we have don’t have our international players, OK go with the academy — or with some physios!”
Meanwhile, Fifa president Sepp Blatter admitted that allowing Qatar to host the tournament was a mistake.
He told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger: “Qatar is a mistake.
“It is too small of a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for it.” More