USA’s Palatial Qatar World Cup Quarters Revealed
As the opening ceremony of the Soccer World Cup in Qatar draws slowly but surely closer, the world has been shown some tantalising glimpses of what awaits the football teams and their fans once they touch down in the Middle East.
Billeted in the lap of luxury
With FIFA revealing the resorts and training grounds of all 32 teams, we now know that the USA national team will be spending their World Cup comfortably ensconced in one of the most jaw-dropping resorts in the region: The Pearl at Marsa Malaz Kempinski.
This lavish resort has been erected on a man-made island, surrounded by crystalline waters. It is so luxurious that the Royal Suite at this hotel comes with a price tag of $16,500 per night, and includes a private butler, a sprawling jacuzzi, two extra beds, and its own powder room.
This awe-inspiring confection of a resort will provide Gregg Berhalter’s team with plenty of opportunities for relaxation and privacy during their sojourn in Doha. As Berhalter was one of the brains behind this choice of resort, it’s likely that his team members will be thanking him for his selection once they land in Doha and witness the sheer luxury of their temporary residence.
Of course, it won’t all be opulence and fun in the desert heat. The USA have something to prove, having been included in the same grouping with Wales, Iran, and England after qualifying for their first World Cup in 8 years. The squad missed out on the previous World Cup, held in Russia, when they failed to qualify.
However, this lengthy break doesn’t seem to have dented the current team’s confidence, and with talented players such as Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic onboard, the USA are probably hoping to extend their stay in their palatial Qatari quarters as long as they can.
During their stay in Doha, in the lead-up to their matches – and in between – the USA squad will be honing their skills at the Al Gharafa SC Stadium.
Where will their rivals be staying?
As the hotels and training grounds for each national team have now been revealed, fans are probably eyeing up their teams’ digs with interest – and perhaps more than a little envy.
The Belgium team has selected the most eye-catching resort of all: the Hilton Salwa Beach is located 60 miles from Doha. This may seem like a lengthy round trip each time the team comes to play, but the various facilities located at the resort probably make the journey worthwhile. Among these amenities, the Belgian players will be able to enjoy whizzing around the go-kart track and blowing off steam at the hotel’s very own water-based adventure park, which offers over 50 rides to choose from.
While no one can predict which team will reign supreme, there seems little doubt that fans and players alike will be dazzled by the luxury that awaits them in Qatar. As well as the sumptuous hotels, many of the training facilities the teams will be using are new and purpose-built for the World Cup, with tournament-grade pitches.
Whether or not these superlative amenities will improve performances remains to be seen, but one thing seems certain; the competing teams will want for nothing during the upcoming World Cup.