The first World Cup to be held in the Middle East kicks off on Sunday, November 20th, putting Qatar in the global spotlight and a destination for football fans the world over.

In this episode of Qatar 365, Euronews takes you on a journey to explore the top sights and places to visit in Qatar to watch the biggest international sporting event.

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Football fans who travel to Qatar to support their national teams will have a special time and will discover that Qatar has more to offer visitors from all over the world than just an international football tournament.

The key to a tour of this country starts with the Haya card, because the card is considered an entry permit into the country and an entry ticket to all stadiums, in addition to allowing free passage on all means of public transport.

Ahmed al-Binal, director of mobility operations at the High Committee for Supply and Heritage, said free transport is an important feature offered by the card, “which allows you to enter the metro, buses and all public transport for free.”

“We encourage everyone to use the Haya Card travel planner to plan their trips. The card will provide them with the latest information on public transport, as well as booking taxis in advance,” he added.

It is impossible to visit Doha without visiting the famous Souq Waqif, which is a crowded market where tourists and locals gather to shop.

It is possible to travel from Souq Waqif to Musharraf in a few minutes to discover the architecture of this city, which is one of the first projects of sustainable renovation of an urban center in the world.

Msheir combines modernity and culture, as well as past, present and future in its construction to breathe new life into Doha’s old business district.

Museums of Islamic Art and History of Qatar

Visitors to Doha can discover its many museums, including the newly renovated Museum of Islamic Art after major renovations.

This museum first opened on the edge of Doha’s Corniche in 2008, marking a turning point for the country as a global cultural destination. A second section has recently been added to the museum, which includes 18 galleries containing examples of Islamic art, history and culture.

“The Museum of Islamic Art is a wonderful tourist attraction in itself. Pritzker Prize-winning architect EMB built this building,” museum director Julia Gonnella told Euronews. The director considers this museum one of the best architectural gems in the entire region.

Adjacent to the Museum of Islamic Art is the impressive National Museum of Qatar, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

Spread over a vast area of ​​40,000 square meters, the museum tells the story of Qatar, particularly the country’s development from its humble beginnings to a rich cultural hub.

The museum takes visitors on a visual journey from prehistory to the present day.

Katara Cultural Village

While in Qatar, you can stroll through the winding streets of Katara Village and discover the most characteristic sights that characterize the village, from Katara Studios, which created the FIFA World Cup soundtrack, to the Opera House. Amphitheater by the sea where numerous concerts and festivals are held.

“Qatar’s vision is to create a cultural hub to import other cultures and export our culture and heritage to others through festivals that we plan, organize or host in Qatar in collaboration with embassies in Qatar,” said Malika Mohammed Al-Shuraimi, director . This was reported to Euronews by the Katara Cultural Village New Media Department.

Lusail, the city of the future

Don’t miss Qatar’s future city, Lusail, which will host the World Cup final.

This city was built over the last twenty years and work on its development has intensified since Qatar was chosen to host the World Cup.

Built with the latest technology, with sustainability as a pillar during construction, Lusail aspires to be the most developed center in Qatar.

Esmat Zidan, associate professor of public policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said the name Lusail comes from a rare flower native to the Lusail region.

Furthermore, “the founder of the modern state of Qatar, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, was born and lived in Lusail and built a fort which was the center of government at the time.”

Consequently, the Qatari government began developing plans years ago to “transform Lusail into an ultra-modern city”.

Today, the city contains tram and subway lines, skyscrapers with architecture that reflects the culture and history of the country and the high-end shopping center “Place Vendome”.

In order for this city to run smoothly, a command and control center has been established that controls all facilities, infrastructure, transport and communication network using the latest technologies.

The city of Lusal extends over about 38 square kilometers and the avenue is the beating heart of the city.

Lusail is also a lively city that never sleeps at night, hosting a range of activities and events to keep visitors entertained, such as concerts and drone shows.