Hey, big spenders: Qatar woos the rich

High-end hotels and expensive match-day packages ensure forthcoming World Cup will certainly be like no other

With deluxe match packages selling for thousands of dollars and five-star hotels doing a brisk trade, a sheen of glamor coats Qatar's World Cup despite soccer's working-class roots.

A penchant for luxury in the energy-rich Gulf state, which has one of the world's highest GDPs per head, has rubbed off on an unusually high-end edition of a tournament for the masses.

If you're able to spring $4,950 for a VIP ticket to a group game, you can enjoy drinks, a six-course meal and entertainment at a lounge overlooking the halfway line at Lusail Stadium, north of Doha.