Qatar, Morocco Qualify for Quarter-Finals at FIFA Arab Cup

(AL RAYYAN, Qatar) — On Saturday, Morocco qualified for the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-finals by winning 4-0 against Jordan at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, making it the second team to qualify for the final eight.

The tension on the field was palpable, as both teams were eager to secure a victory and qualify for the next round. Fans came to the game en masse, chanting their national songs and encouraging their players. The luck was on Morocco team’s side as they dominated the ball for most of the match, leaving little opportunity for Jordan’s team to counter-attack. 

“We are going for the victory,” Morocco’s fan, Sara Naji, told The Click as she was entering the stadium to attend the match. 

Hafsah Ragrag (left) and Sara Naji (right) hold Morocco’s flag ahead of Saturday’s match against Jordan at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan. [Credit: Alma Milisic]

Just a day before, on Friday, Qatar also secured a victory for the quarter-finals by taking Oman 2-1 in an exciting match at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, 7 km north-west of capital Doha.

The result was decided when Oman accidentally scored for Qatar in the last minute of the match. Fans on both sides waited in anticipation as the judges reviewed the video to decide whether the goal was valid or not. Qatar’s fans were elated when the screen showed that the goal was in their team’s favor, giving a loud three-minute ovation to the players.

Qatar was the first team to qualify for the Arab Cup quarter-finals by winning 2-1 against Oman at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. [Credit: Alma Milisic]

From requiring all fans to be fully vaccinated, and introducing mandatory Fan IDs that fans use to access stadiums and free metro rides during match days, Qatar is hoping to use these games as an opportunity to eliminate any possible technical problems when the world descends in 2022.

All fans had to apply for a COVID-19 app and a Fan ID in order to access the stadiums. [Credit: Alma Milisic]

And, of course, the country is building stadiums. This week alone Qatar opened two: 974 Stadium in Ras Abu Aboud in Doha, and Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor city – around 30 miles north of the capital, both of which will host fans next year.

Close to 48,000 fans attended the opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Nov 30, with FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, and Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, officiating the opening.

Fans enjoyed a spectacular 45-minute show at the opening of new Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar’s Al Khor city. [Credit: Alma Milisic]

“I really liked how everything was signaled,” said Blaz. “From volunteers with big foam fingers at the metro station to the organized free rides to the stadium – everything was really great.”

Staff and volunteers at metro stations used foam fingers and loudspeakers to direct fans towards the stadiums. [Credit: Alma Milisic]

“I arrived home at 1 am because I was lost and asked staff and drivers who work there [at the stadium] to help me get to the nearest exit – they didn’t,” wrote one disappointed fan under another fan’s post, “I walked 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) to get to my car.”

But Montiel, who said he had attended several World Cups before, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, was satisfied with the transportation, and took the high prices in stride; “Every country becomes more expensive during matches, it’s just the way it is.”

Gabriel Montiel (left) and Fernanda Blaz (right) used the opportunity that Qatar had eased COVID-19 restrictions to come all the way from Mexico and enjoy the Arab Cup. They said they hope to be back for the next year’s World Cup. [Credit: Alma Milisic]