Folks categorical unhappiness over the World Cup ending however say they really feel privileged to have been part of it.
Doha, Qatar – The Qatar World Cup got here to a spectacular finish on Sunday.
It was 12 years within the making. It got here and went within the house of 28 days, taking with it the crowds, the raucous chanting on the streets, and all the thrill.
On the morning after, Qatar woke as much as the realisation that the World Cup was over.
The alleys of the favored Souq Waqif within the capital, Doha, have been a mere shadow of themselves that have been full of Brazilians, Argentinians, Moroccans and followers of dozens of different taking part nations.
“I felt an excellent unhappiness after I got here into work this morning to see this place so empty,” Ahmed Salam, a shopkeeper at a clothes retailer within the Souq, informed Al Jazeera. “There was a lot liveliness on this space. We had nearly no time to sit down or take a break … however the environment was unimaginable.”
Salam, who's from India, stated he wished a significant event just like the FIFA World Cup would happen “yearly” within the nation.
“The one place outdoors of India I've been to is Qatar. It was nice to have an opportunity to satisfy individuals from all over the world.”
Qatar was anticipated to obtain greater than 1.2 million guests throughout the event. Whereas the precise figures are but to be introduced, it was an enormous quantity for a rustic with a inhabitants of simply 2.7 million.
Elsewhere, throughout Doha, employees have been seen taking down World Cup branding and flags and eradicating limitations enacted across the metro stations. Qatar is formally in anti-climax mode.
Contained in the stations, the crowds have been visibly much less, with no sense of urgency for individuals to hurry, push or shove their manner via in a determined try to make it to one among 64 matches, or the handfuls of concert events that passed off.
Nevertheless, some residents regarded like they have been nonetheless not over the World Cup mania as they walked round with households within the Argentina staff’s white and blue jerseys, scarves and hats.
The Le Albiceleste defeated France in dramatic vogue on Sunday to win the event for the third time of their historical past. So the followers have been rightly soaking it in.
Qatar resident and British citizen Mimi Mohammed stated she nonetheless felt “overwhelmed” by the occasions of the previous 4 weeks and “how privileged” individuals in Qatar have been to be a part of all of it.
“It was really inspiring,” the 38-year-old stated.
Earlier than the World Cup, Greek resident Zoi Zygelopoulou, 45, supervisor of a restaurant in Doha, stated many individuals have been questioning how Qatar would handle to host the large sporting occasion.
Including to the strain was the Western media protection which frequently hurled query marks over the nation and its means to host the World Cup. However because the weeks went on, all of the vacationers that Zygelopoulou met at her restaurant stated they have been pleasantly shocked.
“They informed me that this was probably the greatest World Cups that ever occurred. They didn’t anticipate it, as a result of they didn’t know [much] about Qatar. They have been terrified earlier than as a result of media, however once they got here right here, they have been so joyful,” Zygelopoulou stated.
Feeling ‘low’
Yamina Usman from Pakistan stated whereas winter within the metropolis was all the time “festive”, she had already began to really feel the post-World Cup blues earlier than the ultimate on Sunday even kicked off.
“I had already began to really feel a bit low. Like that is it, it’s all ending,” the 39-year-old informed Al Jazeera.
“To manage, we determined that for the reason that children nonetheless have holidays, we are going to proceed our actions outside, meet individuals, exit to all of the completely different locations we had visited throughout the World Cup. It nonetheless received’t be the identical.”
“It's going to take us some getting used to to the comparatively quiet metropolis that now we have, as a result of it was all the time busy … however by no means chaotic. That was the very best a part of this occasion,” Usman, who has been residing in Doha for six years, stated.
Assembly and interacting with worldwide followers was a spotlight of the World Cup for 26-year-old Qatari Nouf al-Subaie.
“I feel it’s vital to get to know individuals from different nationalities and be open and uncovered to different cultures,” al-Subaie stated. “I hope post-World Cup, individuals proceed to go to and that Qatar continues to host worldwide occasions that may bridge our communities with the remainder of the world.”
Regardless of the World Cup coming to a conclusion, there have been “many issues” to discover and do in Doha, particularly throughout the winter, Mohammed stated.
“It’s actually quieter,” he quipped. “The World Cup is in fact an important day and as a lot as we might like to have these vibes all 12 months lengthy … that’s what makes it particular that it’s for a restricted interval and it's a must to take all of it in whilst you can.”
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