Qatar claims success of World Cup test as football fans open their eyes to Doha

man in charge of organizing 2022 World Cup in Qatar has labeled this month's club equivalent a "great success" as a test event but mitted Gulf state has plenty still to learn over next three years leing up to controversial tournament. Hassan al Thawi, secretary-general of supreme committee for World Cup, also insisted tiny country will be able to handle an influx of huge numbers of supporters and sought to reassure fans used to western culture that y will be me to feel welcome.

RE | Kylian Mbappe Tired Of Being Treated Like A Kid By PSG Manr Thomas Tuchel

"Our plans were previously oretical and today y are being applied on ground. Overall I think Club World Cup has been a great success as a test event," Al Thawi told media in Doha ahe of Saturday's final between Liverpool and Flamengo.

"re are three more years to go to learn, so I have doubt that by 2022 we will be rey." 

Al Thawi was speaking at Education City, one of eight proposed venues for 2022. 40,000-seat stium -- which will be partially dismantled after 2022 -- was due to be inaugurated during Club World Cup, but delays postponed its opening. In contrast, city's sparkling new metro network has performed well after fully opening earlier this month. Crowds of exuberant fans of Flamengo, Esperance or Liverpool armed with free tickets have rubbed shoulders with Qataris and expat commuters on plush system.

RE | Stalemate Shows Work To Do For Ancelotti, Arteta At Everton And Arsenal

t so hot

While metro, and streets above, have hardly been overcrowded, it may be a different story in city come World Cup, with organisers expecting at least 1.2 million supporters in Doha in 2022. "We are building capacity necessary so that by 2022 we have that in place, we are improving our efficiency in terms of transportation, ensuring re is eugh fan engment events, and so on, spre throughout country, so re is congestion in one place," said Al Thawi. FIFA president Gianni Infanti -- who inherited decision to hand tournament to Qatar from predecessor Sepp Blatter -- is upbeat about preparations, with Qatar also staging recent Gulf Cup and hosting next year's Club World Cup. "se are small events but important events," he said, ding: " state of vancement of work here is unique." 

Elsewhere, traffic remains congested on Doha's ros, and authorities have anunced plans to resurrect Sharq Crossing, a mega-project that will use bridges and tunnels to link airport, financial district and tourist attractions, bypassing often gridlocked coast ro. Organisers have tested a 5,000-capacity fan zone where supporters have been able to enjoy a drink in a country where alcohol is t reily available. re has also been concern about how LGBT fans will be welcomed, although Paul Amann, of Liverpool's LGBT supporters' club, Kop Outs, told AFP he was "satisfied ir approach is to provide an 'everyone is welcome' ethos that does include respect, albeit through privacy." 

RE | Krishna's Late Strike Secures 2-2 Draw For ATK Against Hyderab

Al Thawi stuck to that me as he insisted all fans would be welcome but mitted: "Public displays of affection, regardless of sexual orientation, are t part of our culture and we ask people to respect that fact."  This Club World Cup has also confirmed that fans need t worry about temperatures after highly controversial decision to move competition from its usual June-July slot to end of year -- after hosting rights h been awarded. On day of Liverpool's semi-final against Monterrey, exactly three years before World Cup final, cool and damp conditions were a marked contrast with what was first feared. But as Qatar learns about how to be a good host, with many issues surrounding awarding of tournament in first place, it will struggle to win people over. " organisation has been good but it is t a football country and World Cup, with all respect, should be in a country that loves football," said Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus. 

RE | Resilient Neroca Deny Chennai City A Win At Home In I-League