He paid Qataris to fill the stands.

During the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, unexpected events unfolded in the stands, as reported by Zamin.uz.

According to a report shared by the influential online publication The Telegraph, the Qatar Football Association paid fans to support their national team and fill the stadiums. For reference, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Qatar's national team competed in Group B against Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, ultimately finishing last in the group.

However, this show of support in the stands appears to have come at a high cost. Free travel and fan packages According to the source's information, nearly a thousand Qatari citizens received special packages to watch the World Cup matches live in the stadium.

This package included the following benefits. Flight expenses were fully covered.

Accommodation in a hotel near the stadium was guaranteed. Match tickets were provided completely free of charge.

Additionally, before the matches began, these fans were given fan kits containing special jerseys, scarves, and hats in the national team's colors. My first time seeing football live in a stadium: Fake fans The most intriguing aspect of the spectacle is that, during the group stage matches, a group of fans who passionately cheered for Qatar's national team turned out to be citizens of the USA and Mexico.

When journalists spoke directly with them, some of these fans admitted that this was actually the first time in their lives they had ever watched a football match live in a stadium. Although Qatar Football Association's paid tactic managed to create noise in the stands, unfortunately, it did not help change the national team's unfortunate performance on the field.

Source: one.uz