The Last Crusade: Spain v Costa Rica, Al Thumama Stadium, FIFA World Cup Qatar, 23 Nov 22

Spain v Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup 2022, Group E

Al Thumama Stadium

Doha, Qatar

23 Nov 22

There was no official programme for the WC but they did produce an excellent 129 page Fan Guide which included all of the information that a visiting fan would require.

I purchased Cat 2 tickets for this game during the 2nd FIFA ballot on 5 Apr 23. The cost was 600 QAR (approximately £136). At the time the opponents of Spain were unknown as it was billed as the Spain v Intercontinental Play Off 2 game. The play off was held at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayan, Qatar and Costa Rica were victorious against NZ by 1 goal to 0. The Kiwis were really unlucky with the refereeing decisions that night as the ref from UAE made some terrible decisions, including disallowing a good goal and turning down a definite penalty.

Al Thumama Stadium has a capacity of 44000 and is located 12 km south of central Doha. It is shaped in the circular form of the gahfiya - the traditional woven cap adorned by men and boys across the Arab world, it symbolises the coming of age for a youth. The area of Al Thumama is very traditional and the walk from the shuttle drop off point is amongst the most interesting of all the stadiums

Spain 7 Costa Rica 0

Attendance: 40,013

Despite our raucous support the Costa Ricans were no match for the Spanish team and they were ripped apart from the off. Olmo scored on 11 mins, then Asensio on 21 with some fast passing around the box. Ferran Torres then bagged a brace with a 31 min strike and a 54 min penalty. Gavi made it 5:0 on 74 mins with the best goal of the game. In the final minute of normal play Soler scored. Morata added a great 7th goal in additional time to complete a 7:0 thrashing of Costa Rica. The Central Americans just did not show up.

The day before the game we visited the National Museum of Qatar, passing one of the official WC posters on the way

The National Museum of Qatar - was completed in 2019 and has fantastic interactive galleries and exhibitions. The building is shaped in the form of a Desert Rose and surrounds the old original Royal Palace.

A Steel Battoulah mask greets you at the entrance

The origins of Arabic culture are everywhere, including the importance of Lawrence of Arabia and his role in galvanising the Arabian tribes in their struggle against the Turks

One of many interactive galleries

On 7 Sep 1895 Britain despatched a warship after provocation by the Ottoman governor of Zubarah, declaring Bahrain as Ottoman territory and pledging support to Jassim bin Mohammed and his Qatari tribes to mount a naval invasion against the British. The result was that the British opened fire on Zubarah's port, destroying 44 dhows. The Qatari's surrendered on favourable terms but in the early 20thC the town became deserted due mainly to inadequate water supply

After the National Museum we get the metro to the DECC (Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre). This is where you get Hayya Card Support and any last minute ticket sales

In the Hayya card section we managed to bag

ourselves some gizzits from Qatar

2022 FIFA WC lanyards😊

Air conditioned tunnel leading to the Corniche

Harry Kane and Virgil Van Dyke lighting up Doha

Sadio Mane - poster boy of the WC is sadly injured

View of West Bay from the Corniche

England v Ninjas in the Golf Cart Challenge

After being dropped off at the cruise ships, we take a peek inside our sister ship, the 5 star MSC Europa

TBH the 4 star MSC Poesia ain't to shabby but you would not expect it to be as the Half Board option in an economy cabin cost me £974 for 6 nights, but it was worth it😎

It's been a long day, one more Long Island Ice Tea, then bed

View of the 974 stadium from the MSC Poesia

during the Mexico v Poland game

"Good Morning Doha". It's matchday, Spain v Costa Rica.

After a few beers on board MSC Poesia its back on the shuttle bus to Souq Waqif

Nice refreshing Ginger and Lime drink. Who needs alcohol?

Posing with Falcon

Time to discover Souq Waqif with Dora the Explorer

The Falcon Souq in Souq Waqif

The Falcons on parade, some of these cost over 20,000 USD

Kiosk where you buy you're falconry gear

Arabian horse in the Royal Stables

Just outside is a mock Bedouin village

Arabian Oryx

Time to hit the metro to take a look at the fan park at Al Bidda

After getting through the queues and security we finally get to the Fan park but sadly alcohol is not sold until 1900hrs so it looks like we will be sober for football (a first)

Germany v Japan has just kicked off on the big screen

Time to hit the FIFA shop

Official Qatar shirts - I'll skip these

After jumping on the Metro at West Bay we take the red line all the way to Free Zone and then take the shuttle to the stadium. From the drop off point it is 35 minute walk

On the way there is plenty of entertainment. Here is a traditional Arabic female band

The Big Screen at the Al Thumama Fan Park is showing the last few minutes of the Germany v Japan game

First glimpse of the giant 'Gahfiya'

A patrol of female Police Officers; helping to dispel the myth of inequality that surrounds Qatar

Most neutrals (including us) were supporting Costa Rica

Heading to the security/ticket checks

Yours truly sporting the 2013 England (Away) top which was first seen at the Maracanã v Brazil in Jun 13

Ole, Ole, Ole, Ticos, Ticos

Stadium Plan

Match 2 of our Qatar World Cup tour is upon us

The scene is set at the incredible Al Thumama Stadium. This is the 4th meeting between Spain and Costa Rica, the previous 2 have ended in Spanish home wins (5:0 in Malaga in 2017 and 2:1 in Leon in 2015). The first game was a 2:2 draw in 2011 at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose