England's World Cup hotel for Qatar 2022 is like 'school trip in 1980s'

Posted Saturday, April 02, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

England's World Cup hotel for Qatar 2022 is like 'school trip in 1980s'
Souq Al-Wakra Hotel does not have a great of facilities, according to Hancock

Football chiefs have picked a hotel from a 'school trip back in the 1980s' as England's Qatar World Cup finals HQ, according to a sports travel guru.

David Hancock, who has inspected the Souq Al-Wakra Hotel 10 miles from the Gulf state's capital Doha warned Three Lions' stars 'may well be in for a shock'. He said there was no swimming pool, private beach, or booze, and - with England hoping to spend the entire five-week tournament there - the 'boredom factor is going to register very highly'.

The layout of the rooms in separate blocks could allow players from the same clubs to 'build their own kingdoms' - allowing 'cliques' to form within the squad. If they do venture out there will be 'no hiding' as they will have to share a public beach and 'run down' alcohol-free cafes nearby with locals.

For training, the players will have to travel to a football academy 2km away - through a 'busy market'. David said of three possible bases on England's shortlist that he inspected it was the worst - and cheapest at around ￡85-a-night.

"Over the last 20 years or so as the England players have got increasingly cosseted they may well be in for a shock as the boredom factor is going to register very highly on the radar," he wrote in a blog. "There is of course no alcohol at the hotel or the seafront restaurants and cafes that sit nestled up against the walls of the hotel. The décor of the hotel and the rooms for dining needed major renovation and it had the feel of a hotel you might visit when on a 'school trip' back in the 1980s.

England's World Cup hotel for Qatar 2022 is like 'school trip in 1980s'
Souq Al-Wakra Hotel Qatar resembles that of 'a school trip you might have in the 1980s'

England's World Cup hotel for Qatar 2022 is like 'school trip in 1980s'
The hotel won't be what the players are used to

"The biggest problem apart from no alcohol will be the lack of any facilities to unwind. Also cliques can build up during tournaments and given the build of the hotel it's quite possible that players from the same clubs will be able to build their own kingdoms behind the locked doors of each compound. Which is not always a healthy environment to be in to win tournaments. The hotel describes itself as a five-star luxury resort with access to the beach.