Inside Qatar 2022 World Cup bases with Belgium getting their very own theme park
The World Cup is fast approaching – and those who will bask in the winter sun in Qatar will never have had it so good with luxurious base camps ready for the showpiece.
Qatar have pulled out all the stops to make sure sides can relax away from the pitch and the pressures of tournament life. From private theme parks to secluded beaches – Qatar have splashed the cash on luxury venues.
And with national sides now confirming where they will be stationed for the festival of football later this year, Daily Star Sport is having a look at some of the venues.
England
Gareth Southgate and co will launch their assault on a first World Cup triumph in 56 years from the Souq Al Wakra hotel.
Souq Al Wakrah is an alcohol-free, five-star beach resort in the fishing village Al Wakrah 10 miles south of Doha. With the sun shining England's stars will be able to relax on the beach resort on the South Coast of Qatar in between fixtures.
The players' families will stay in separate accommodation nearby, while the Three Lions will train at a facility six minutes away from the hotel.
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Belgium
This feels like the last chance for the Belgian golden generation to finally add a trophy to the empty cabinet in Brussels.
And the Red Devils have arguably the best accommodation to do so by staying at the Hilton Salwa. The luxury hotel has rooms that command a fee of almost £6,000-per-night, while the side will also have their own swimming pool, two training pitches, and a 3.5km private beach.
However, the best feature seems to be the water park, which has 56 rides – oh, and there's an underwater restaurant.
Spain
Unlike England and Belgium, Spain have opted for a more lowkey approach to their preparations in Qatar.
And the Spanish will be based at the Qatar University campus – where they will have exclusive use of two floodlit pitches, gyms, recovery areas, a jacuzzi and meeting rooms. And if Luis Enrique has his back turned for long enough, there's a Papa Johns.
Liverpool used the facilities when they played in the Club World Cup in 2019.
Germany
Germany's choice of venue for the World Cup arrows on relaxation rather than keeping players entertained.
Hansi Flick's first major tournament in charge of the serial winners will see Germany stay at an alcohol-free health and wellbeing centre, the Zulal Wellness Resort. The five-star, 28-hectare, 120-room resort stretches out into the Arabian Sea.
Rooms are dotted around the side that takes in the sea, sand, and lagoons.
France
The defending champions are looking to become the first back-to-back winners since Brazil in 1962, and only the third ever to complete such a feat.
And the kings of the world will be living up to the moniker when they stay at the Al Messina – and its facade of an Arabian palace. France will take over the entire complex for the tournament – including its six restaurants, three swimming pools, and fitness centre.
France will also have access to the 13,000-seater Jassim-bin-Hamad stadium.
Argentina
Spain won't be the only side based at Qatar University, and Argentina will also start their preparations at the campus.
Fortunately, while the two sides can meet in the semi-finals, they won't at the University with Argentina also being given exclusive use of a number of pitch and recovery areas. Then again, they could bump into each other in the lines at Papa Johns or Starbucks.
According to the media in Argentina, the Argentine FA are set to 'invest a significant sum of money to refurbish the facilities and give it an Argentine touch'.
Brazil
To finish off, the winningest team in the history of the World Cup, Brazil are gunning for a record sixth triumph.
Twenty years after they last conquered the world, Brazil has posted themselves in the centre of all the action at The Westin Doha. The average journey to a World Cup stadium from The Westin Doha is just 17 minutes.
There are still four restaurants, three swimming pools, a fitness centre and a spa, as well as an 'urban oasis' blurb.
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