All photos by Ray Toh, unless otherwise noted
Thousands of Qatar residents flocked to football fan zones, coffee shops and friends’ homes across the country last night as Argentina and Germany faced off in the 2014 World Cup Finals.
It took 112 long minutes for Germany to break the stalemate, with Mario Goetze scoring a goal in extra-time, and helping his team win their fourth World Cup.
Reactions in Qatar were mixed to the news, but everyone appeared to agree that it was better to celebrate/commiserate together.
At the Brazil 2014 fan zones at Katara and Aspire, residents described a cool experience, literally.
Photographer Ray Toh said despite wearing two shirts, the open-air viewing area was chilly at Katara, due to the new cooling technology that is being tested ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Because crowds didn’t begin dispersing until after 1am last night, there are many bleary-eyed residents at work this morning:
I feel your pain! @LibyaLiberty: I stayed up late to watch the game, my team lost,got 2 hours of sleep in,& now I'm at work,fasting.
— We Are Qatar (@WeAreQatar) July 14, 2014
@qatarday My morning thought; Is it Thursday yet?
— Brian Candy (@iCandy_pw) July 14, 2014
Did you watch the match last night? Thoughts?
Please dont wake me up…!
“with Mario Goetze scoring a point in extra-time”…..do you mean he scored a goal?
It’s the sort of thing you might want to get right given the World Cup is supposed to be coming here in 8 years….
My mistake – just fixed it. I did play (amateur) soccer/football for over a decade, so I’m chalking this up to my own lack of sleep.
How boring does that fanfest look!? And to think others went to a coffee shop to watch hahaha. Thankfully I wasn’t in the country. Money can only buy assets not atmosphere, excitement, choices………sorry Qatar another epic fail. Even my muslim friends in Jakarta were out until all hours of the morning drinking, celebrating and enjoying the football.
yeh the atmosphere there isnt great but when you consider that 90% of the people are expats then surely you blame the expats and not the country itself
Also, coming from the UK the atmosphere was similar in pubs when the england weren’t playing.
The fanfest was actually quite animated, you’re just a hater who judges from a singular picture. Eat a bag of dix.
Eating dix isn’t allowed, you should know that………no freedom of choice remember.
I’m sure you can find a nice corner to hide in Jakarta and start chowing down.
The empty ‘reserved’ seats at the front say it all. At least have people sit in them for the photograph being taken. Sadly, this is an all too familiar sight at events in Qatar. Let’s hope that changes before WC 2022. Embarrassing.
This is all too common. I have seen the same at the tennis. There should be a clause for any corporation whose seats go unused that they are barred or get reduced seating the following year. Private individuals should be barred from buying tickets in the following year if they are not used.
On top of this I wonder how the various attire of the Brasil world cup would go down here.
If only you would be allowed to celebrate the German way… beer, sausage (from pork!) and some nice girls in bikini.