One of the chief organisers of the World Cup believes host nation Qatar is "gripped by football fever" despite Sunday’s opening game featuring thousands of empty seats as fans left early.
With Qatar 2-0 down at half-time to Ecuador, the number of empty seats became increasingly visible in home sections of Al Bayt Stadium from the start of the second half onwards, and by the final 15 minutes the ground was virtually deserted except for the exuberant Ecuadorians.
