Football world cup 2022: Saudi soccer fan walks through 1600 km of desert to reach Qatar. Here's why

Football fans across the world are known for their eccentric behavior. Abdullah Al Salmi of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is one such person. With the World Cup fever catching on, fans are busy planning their Qatar schedules. High airline ticket prices to Qatar are already causing concern for many visitors to one of the world’s biggest sporting events. But not for Al Salmi; the Jeddah resident has already reached Qatar without bothering with air ticket prices. Salmi, in his most ambitious trek so far, walked for 55 days to reach Doha, the capital city of Qatar.

A long walk

With the Arab World hosting the grand tournament for the first time, Salmi never wanted to miss the opportunity. Sami, who became interested in trekking during his student days in Canada, felt his trek would bolster brotherhood and unity between the two neighbouring countries. Leaving his home town of Jeddah on September 9, Salmi reached Doha on Saturday, crossing over most of the desert region of Saudi Arabia.

Amazing Reception

Salmi is overjoyed by the kind of reception he received at the Saudi-Qatar border. People were waiting with flowers and food.

The tiring journey doesn’t bother Sami at all; his only concern now is Saudi’s performance in the cup.

FAQs:

1. In which group is Saudi Arabia?
   Saudi Arabia is in Group C; Argentina, Mexico, and Poland are the other participants.
2. When is Saudi Arabia’s first match?
   Saudi Arabia opens its World Cup campaign on November 22 against former champion Argentina.