Qatar 2022 Fan Booking Journey Workshop
Today I participated in the Qatar 2022 Fan Booking Journey Workshop as a member of the Qatar Fan Leaders Network. This workshop included presentations and a Q&A session with experts from the ticketing team, accommodation team, and the Hayya card (fan ID) team for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. I’ve covered the major discussion points below in a Q&A format. Some questions were not addressed due to time constraints or the need for more exploration - I will add further information when these questions are finally answered.
Tickets
How will I find out if my application in the current lottery phase was successful?
- Sometime AFTER May 31, you will receive an email stating whether your application was fully successful, partially successful, or unsuccessful. You will receive no further correspondence about your application until that time.
If my application is successful, how do I pay for the tickets?
- The email informing you that your application was successful will include information regarding ticket payment, including the deadline for payment. You must pay for ALL tickets that you were successfully rewarded before the deadline. Otherwise, ALL of the tickets successfully rewarded will be returned to the pool for sale later.
What is my ticket application number?
- If you have a successful application, your ticket application number will be in the first line of the email notification. That number will be used to apply for accommodations and your Hayya card.
When can the names of the guests be changed on tickets?
- The GUEST names can be changed any time after the ticket payment has been received. However, the MAIN APPLICANT name can NEVER be changed.
When can tickets be resold through the official FIFA ticket resales?
- These dates have not been set yet.
Will tickets be mobile or paper?
- Tickets will ONLY BE MOBILE. There was a lot of discussion about the FIFA mobile app, ticket delivery, lost phones, phone batteries, data access, etc. More to follow on these items.
Does the name on your ticket have to match your Hayya card?
- Yes, this is a term of conditions for the tickets. This prompted a lot of angst from fans used to having paper tickets that had other names on the tickets for various reasons. Organizers stated the rules but also stated that the fan concerns would be taken into consideration.
Will souvenir paper tickets be available?
- Maybe, this is currently being considered.
What are the future stages of ticket sales?
- July – First-come, first-served sales. October – Last-minute sales.
Accommodations
Will there be enough accommodation for all fans?
- The presenters repeatedly stated their confidence that there would be adequate capacity for all fans with tickets to have reasonably priced accommodations. They stressed this was one of the reasons they are prioritizing bookings for only those who have tickets at this time.
Are all available accommodations currently listed on the booking site?
- No, there is a planned phased approach. The following rough statistics were mentioned...Approximately 1 million tickets have been sold. This is one-third of the total tickets that will be available. To date, approximately one-third of the total rooms that will be available have been reserved.
What is the status of Hotels?
- Hotels were initially held for official parties to book. The Accommodation Agency is now getting some of these hotel rooms returned, and they expect some hotel rooms to be available as early as next week.
Will more Cruise Ship rooms become available?
- Yes, but specifics regarding numbers and price categories were not discussed.
What is the basic structure of Apartments/Villas available for booking?
- These are full blocks of properties, not individual units, that were blocked. There will be hotel-style check-in services and other assistance for these properties. In total, there will be 60,000 rooms, including 10,000 in the budget category, that start at $84/night and accommodate two people.
What are the types of Fan Village accommodation?
- There are two types of accommodations. Two-person cabins will be available as early as next week for $200/night. Tents will be available in approximately July, and prices were not discussed.
Hayya Cards
When can you apply for your Hayya card?
- Once you have successfully paid for tickets and have a valid Ticket Application Number. Your accommodation information can be added later, though your Hayya card approval will be pending until you add the accommodation information.
What is the approval process for the Hayya card?
- After submitting the application, your approval will be pending until your accommodation is verified and your security clearance is completed. These processes will be done based on your Ticket Application Number and passport information. If your application is rejected, you will be provided a reason for rejection, so you can make corrections and resubmit.
What if I'm just going to enter Qatar for game day and do not have accommodations?
- This will be possible. The rules are currently being determined, so this is not a current option on the Hayya app, but will be available in the future.
Does your Hayya card serve as your visa to enter Qatar?
- No. Sometime after October 1, you will receive an Entry Permit. It will become visible on your Hayya app and will also be emailed to you.