A strange World Cup comes to an end: no rainbows, no alcohol, no AirBnB

The 2022 FIFA World Cup ends on Sunday, December with the final between Argentina and France. As opposed to other editions of the soccer tournament, this year the minds and hearts of many fans were dominated by the Qatari culture and the decisions of its organization that overshadowed much of the event.

Qatar is a Muslim nation, with laws, customs, and practices rooted in Islam and upheld by the State and its citizens. With the hosting of FIFA's World Cup 2022, provisions of these customs and practices were made for foreigners visiting the area.

Clothing may be interpreted on an individual basis by local authorities in Qatar, and it was possible for fans to be denied entry if it was deemed offensive.

The late American journalist Grant Wahl was famously denied entry into a Qatari stadium for wearing a rainbow t-shirt, due to its association with the LGBTQ+ community. He would later suddenly pass away, but as his family has indicated, this had nothing to do with the rainbow controversy. It was just incredibly bad luck.

Unlike its neighboring country Saudi Arabia, Qatar does not require women to wear the Islamic veil, also known as the hijab. Nevertheless, whenever you stay in Qatar, you should dress modestly in public (and in cars), respecting its culture by wearing longer clothes that cover both your shoulders and knees.

In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal. But the World Cup organizers made it clear that "everyone is welcome," adding that there would be no restrictions for friends or unmarried couples staying in the same hotel room. However, intimacy in public, regardless of orientation, could be considered offensive in Qatar.

Is alcohol legal in Qatar? For some, yes. Muslims are not permitted to consume alcoholic beverages. However, non-Muslims over the age of 21, are allowed to drink but with excessive regulation. Therefore, entering Qatar with alcohol packed in your luggage, carry-on, or bought in airports (such as Duty-Free) is forbidden.

With Budweiser as the official World Cup 2022 beer sponsor, Qatar had gone to great lengths to make beer-drinking, sport-watching foreigners feel at home, offering beer within the FIFA World Cup stadiums during the soccer matches and in other controlled areas.

However, right before the World Cup began, Qatari authorities along with FIFA announced a last-minute ban on alcohol sales in the Qatari stadiums. The organization stated: "There is no impact to the sale of Bud Zero which will remain available at all of Qatar's World Cup stadiums."

Budweiser tweeted (and then deleted) on their official Twitter account: "Well, this is awkward." While Budweiser alcoholic stands were no longer allowed inside the stadium, fans could find alcoholic beer and wine in licensed venues and some fan destination sites during the scheduled serving hours, as stated by the World Cup Qatari organization.

Since 2014, vaping has been banned in Qatar and is punishable by a fine of up to 10,000 riyals (about $2,800) or even by a prison sentence!

Due to limited accommodations in Qatar, only World Cup ticket holders were permitted to travel to Qatar in the month of November. After this date, once the group stage was over, non-ticket holders could enter the state of Qatar again.

To book accommodations during the World Cup, fans had to go through the official platform of its organizers. Several types of accommodations were available there: hotel rooms, apartments, villas, and lodgings in outside villages.

To enter Qatari territory, fast must have a Hayya card. Acting as a type of visa in the country, it also gave them access to the stadiums (in addition to game tickets, of course) and to public transport. The Hayya card also allowed fans to receive free treatment in public hospitals. To obtain this card, visitors had to apply on the official organizer's website.

The Hayya card allows fans to stay in Qatar until January 23, 2023, as well as stay in other areas close by, such as Saudi Arabia. This neighboring country of Qatar is gradually opening up to tourism and taking advantage of the World Cup to welcome supporters who wish to extend their holidays in the Middle East.

In Qatar, relationships outside of marriage are prohibited and punishable by up to seven years in prison. However, the official organizers of the World Cup 2022 wanted to reassure incoming visitors that no marital status would be inquired about during the entirety of the event. There should be no hesitation by any person to seek medical treatment should any situation occur during their stay in Qatar.

Youssef Al-Maslamani, the organizing committee's spokesperson on health issues, spoke at a press conference held in Doha: "People will not be asked whether they are married or not, their gender, nationality or religion. They will be asked questions about their state of health and not about their personal situations."

However, some foreign authorities, such as the United States Embassy, erred on the side of caution. They recommended that visitors such as pregnant women bring their marriage certificates, in case they were to need medical care during their stay in Qatar.

For the first time in its history, the World Cup had to be moved to wintertime due to the climate of the host country. During the months of November and December, temperatures are mild in Qatar, generally reaching 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24º Celsius). It's an enjoyable climate, far from the scorching temperatures that engulf the desert in the summer months.