- Probably the last opportunity to see Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar together in a World Cup
- Nearest Cup venue from Kolkata with a direct flight from the city
These are the two main draws for the football World Cup that begins in Qatar on November 20.
Tour operators said the demand for tickets for World Cup 2022 matches are much more compared with the last one, held in Russia in 2018.
However, many among those flocking to Qatar to watch the clash of the titans with magic feet had been to Russia as well.
Cardiologist Rabin Chakraborty and wife Arundhati Chakraborty, an oncologist, will reach Doha from Kolkata on November 27.
They have tickets for three group league matches — Brazil-Switzerland on November 28, Argentina-Poland on November 30, and Portugal-South Korea on December 2.
“We wanted to watch all three legends in action — Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo. They are apparently playing their last World Cup,” said Rabin Chakraborty.
“I had been to Russia, too, to watch the World Cup. I am a Brazil fan but my wife supports Argentina. We went to Yuva Bharati Krirangan to watch Messi play (at a friendly between Argentina and Venezuela in September 2011).”
Kolkata-based businessman Jaydip Das had wanted to watch the final, the semis, one quarterfinal and two group league matches.
“However, I could get the ticket for only one quarterfinal match through the FIFA website. I will be going to Doha on December 9,” said Das.
He had been to Russia and Brazil to watch the World Cup action up close.
“Recently, I returned from Australia after watching India’s T20 World Cup matches against Pakistan and South Africa,” he said.
Avijit Das, director of Hermes Voyages Pvt Ltd that is taking more than 200 people from Kolkata and other parts of the world to Doha, said the maximum demand for tickets among Bengalis is for Argentina matches.
“In Russia, there was a good demand for Germany’s matches, but this time it is mostly for Argentina, followed by Brazil and also Portugal, because of Ronaldo,” said Das.
“Bengalis not just from Kolkata or other parts of India, but from the UK and the US, too, have booked tickets through our agency,” he said.
“We get tickets through our partners in Europe. There is still demand for Argentina’s matches but we have exhausted our quota,” he said.
Hermes Voyages had in 2018 taken less than 100 people from Kolkata to Russia. This time the Cup brigade from the city is 180-strong.
“Eleven of our clients will watch the final match,” said Das.