Analysis: What it’s like being at the World Cup
.) Outside Al Thumama Stadium, I encountered quite a few Iran fans who had come to Qatar from the United States. They stressed that their support for the Iranian team had nothing to do with the political regime in Tehran they despised. When the anthem of the Islamic Republic is played, audible boos and jeers are heard around the stadium.emerged of pro-regime supporters brawling with Iranians who voiced support for the ongoing anti-regime protests.
Even though Tunisia ultimately wins, their victory isn’t enough to advance them. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Mexico manage to make it to the knockout round, either.— Stadium 974 in Doha is named after the number of shipping containers that form its structure. At some point after the tournament ends, Qatar intends to dismantle the
and ship its component pieces to an undesignated nation in Africa. Even before the game between Argentina and Poland begins, it feels like Argentina’s hinchas want to start the relocation early.They vastly outnumber the small contingent of Poles in attendance and the stadium almost heaves to their songs and frequent rhythmic jumping. They sing about their legendary talismans Lionel Messi and. They sing about the fallen soldiers in the Falklands War.
Anxiety creeps in after Messi shows his mortality and misses a penalty in the first half. But things right themselves soon in the second half and Argentina crests toward victory and qualification to the next round, overcoming the now-distant shock of losing to Saudi Arabia in their opening match. Poland ends the game unfussed — Mexico’s narrow win over the Saudis mean they are through too on goal difference.— Hoping to avoid another late bedtime, I decide to skip the 10 p.m.
In the end, Morocco holds on, becoming the only Arab team to make the second round. Video shows the emir of Qatar in the stands, waving the Moroccan flag. Outside the stadium, I speak to Maryam Rochdi, 35, a Moroccan expatriate living in Doha. “This city is usually very quiet,” she told me, “but we at the World Cup have given it a new soul.”
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