FIFA Fan Festival – A football party in the desert at Qatar 2022

The FIFA World Cup is a true party, a beacon of unity and a month-long festivity, where fans from all corners of the world can get together, enjoy their teams playing on the biggest of stages and enjoy themselves in unique settings, creating amazing memories that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

On the outskirts of the competition itself, FIFA partners with the local organising committees for creating the best experience for fans, with the FIFA Fan Festival concept getting more and more steam since its introduction at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The Fan Festivals take place in iconic locations of the host cities and feature broadcasts of football matches on giant screens, live concerts, parties, food, beverages, and other activities and entertainment, tailor-made experiences for fans to enjoy themselves both when their favourite teams or the other sides are featuring in the competition.

Qatar 2022 is the fifth FIFA World Cup edition to have a FIFA Fan Festival, with the host country generating a vast array of cultural and entertainment options for single fans or families alike, with the country-wide festival including more than 90 special events set to take place on the sidelines of the tournament. The major events will feature match viewing areas, music festivals, cultural displays and street performances.

“Fans from across the globe should expect an incredible experience when they arrive in Qatar for the biggest mega-event ever to be held in our country and region,” said Khalid Al Mawlawi, Deputy Director General, Marketing, Communications and Event Experience, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

“Thanks to close collaboration with our many stakeholders, we will deliver a variety of entertainment activities for both locals and visitors, as we aim to deliver the most exciting edition of the FIFA World Cup in history.”

For the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with all eight stadiums in a radius of 21 kilometres, the FIFA Fan Festival has become a nationwide activity, with over 90 activations scheduled to take place before, during and just after the tournament, with several locations for fans to watch the games, enjoy music festivals, cultural displays and street performances.

The focal point of the FIFA Fan Festival will be centred in Doha, Qatar’s capital, the city with the largest number of stadiums and accommodation places. The Corniche, a 6km strip of land from the Sheraton Hotel to the Museum of Islamic Art Park, will serve as the prime point of entertainment during the FIFA World Cup. According to the organisers, the Corniche will be accessible to over 100.000 people at its busiest.

150 food outlets, four live stages, daily water & light shows, family & children-friendly entertainment, official FIFA merchandise will be available at the Corniche Fan Festival, which is expected to have more than 6.000 performances between 20 November and 18 December.

While the Corniche might be the most interesting point that will gather the largest number of fans, all the other eight stadiums have tailor-made interest points, offering a variety of activities to keep fans busy. Visual arts, crafts, heritage, fashion, design, performance art, music, and movie screenings will all be among the special attractions.

Away from the stadiums, football fans will flock to the FIFA Fan Festival at Al Bidda Park, which will show every match live and feature stage performances, food and beverage outlets, cultural activities and sponsor activations. The FIFA Fan Festival will open on 19 November and have the capacity to host up to 40,000 visitors. In addition, fan zones will be hosted in the Industrial Area and Al Khor.

Fans will be able to enjoy theme park rides and other attractions at Al Maha Island Lusail, including ice skating and circus performances. There will also be a beach club and a range of food and beverage options, including both high-end and casual dining.

Another tourist hotspot will be the 974 Beach Club – located close to 974 Stadium – which will offer music, activities, food and beverage options, and retail stalls for up to 10,000 guests. 1.2 kilometres of beach, 50 restaurants, over 20 water sports and activities and 30 retail outlets are expecting fans at the Beach Club, with live music, international artists and cultural activities spicing things up.

The FIFA Fan Festival has been kicked off one day before the start of the FIFA World Cup proper with an outstanding concert of Colombian artist Maluma, who lit up the sky with his famous hits, offering an excellent array of his repertoire.

Maluma, alongside Nicki Minaj and Myriam Fares have also unleashed Tukoh Taka, the first-ever official FIFA Fan Festival anthem, to pump up the atmosphere at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

According to FIFA, “from the FIFA Fan Festivals taking place in Doha’s Al Bidda Park and worldwide to the buzz of the stadiums across Qatar, Tukoh Taka will set the tone for an unforgettable experience by amplifying three of music’s most iconic voices.”