Qatar’s metro system struggles as Argentina fans flood to the Lusail Stadium for the World Cup final
Qatar’s Doha metro system struggles to cope as thousands of Argentina fans flood to the Lusail Stadium for the World Cup final against France… with tickets changing hands for £9,000 outside the ground
Qatar’s metro system struggled to cope on Sunday as thousands of Argentina fans attempted to make their way to the Lusail Stadium for the World Cup final against France.
The metro system is the main route for fans to take to travel to the stadium, which will host the tournament’s showpiece game.
The Supreme Committee, which has overseen local preparations for the tournament, have said security officials were briefly ‘pausing’ people at the entrances to the Metro to stem the flow of traffic.
Officials have sought to regulate the Metro system as fans seek to reach the World Cup final
The officials are then letting them into key Metro stations to help regulate the flow into the system.
Reports claim the Msheireb Metro Station was closed by organisers in an attempt to deal with the number of fans seeking to travel to the stadium.
Taxi drivers have dropped some fans off 50 minutes from the Lusail Stadium to avoid gridlock.
Qatar Rail confirmed there were ‘lengthy waiting times’ on metro services due to high demand.
‘All Doha Metro stations are currently experiencing high demand,’ a statement read.
‘Access to the stations is delayed and lengthy waiting times should be expected. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
‘We will update you as the situation changes.’
The Lusail Stadium has a capacity of 88,966.
Around 50,000 Argentina fans are expected to attend the final, while 6,000 French supporters are due to be inside the Lusail Stadium.
Tickets are officially sold out for the final, but ticketless fans have reportedly been quoted around £9,000 to secure a seat at the stadium.
Lionel Messi has confirmed the final will be his last ever match at a World Cup.
The Argentina captain is seeking to add that all important World Cup winners medal to the most glittering of trophy cabinets the game has ever seen.
France are seeking consecutive World Cup triumphs, after emerging victorious at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
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