VANCOUVER — Qatar fans are getting to World Cup matches for free from state-sponsored tickets, but there may be fewer when the team visits Vancouver for their second Group B match against co-hosts Canada on Thursday.
Qatar’s Football Association recently partnered with the government to help fund travel for 1,000 fans from the Middle East to North America for the World Cup. That process saw them charter three Qatar Airways flights to San Francisco for the World Cup opening 1–1 draw against Switzerland, but the team is having trouble getting fans in Canada while still offering fully funded tickets.