Qatar races to ready itself for an unusual World Cup

congestion on the tree-lined, ten-lane motorway out of Doha, the capital. It feels big enough to fit every car in Qatar. As drivers glide north, they pass Lusail stadium, the 80,000-seat bowl that will host the World Cup final in December. It takes just another 20 minutes to reach al-Bayt stadium, where a semi-final will be played. Qatar’s promise to stage a has been kept: football fans should have no trouble watching more than one match a day.Its efforts look less impressive if you turn down a narrow road soon after al-Bayt stadium. At the end sits the al-Khor “fan village”, which promises hundreds of guests an “enjoyable and lavish stay” with swimming pool and restaurant. Rooms start at 1,512 rials ($415) a night.