As we made our way to Qatar for the World Cup, we couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with a bit of trepidation. We had heard mixed reviews about the country and were unsure what to expect.


Upon arriving in Doha, we were immediately struck by the city's modernity and cleanliness. However, as we explored the city more, we found it rather sterile and lacking character.


Despite this, we were in Qatar for one main reason: to watch the World Cup. We attended the USA vs. Wales game and were lucky enough to sit in the front row, where we made it on TV a few times. The energy in the stadium was electric, and it was a thrill to cheer on my team alongside my friends.


However, the experience of attending the World Cup in Qatar was not without its drawbacks. Beer and cocktails were hard to come by, and the local laws made it nearly impossible for us to drink unless we were in a sterile hotel bar that could have been right out of Chicago or New York, where we were paying $15/beer. This made the atmosphere feel somewhat subdued compared to the previous World Cup Kyle had attended in 2018. Fortunately, a friend of a friend had previously lived in Qatar and had a local connection who had a special permit and had been stocking up on alcohol for months. We were able to pregame the Mexico vs. Poland game at their apartment, and the whole experience felt like what prohibition must have felt like.


All in all, our trip to Qatar was a mixed bag. While we enjoyed attending the World Cup and hanging with friends, we found the country lacking character and atmosphere. We left Qatar feeling grateful for the experience but ready to move on to my next adventure.


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