DOHA, Qatar — The half-hour journey from the airport to the U.S. men’s national team World Cup base zips past skyscrapers and then snakes right, onto an exotic island that used to be sea.
Upon arrival last weekend, USMNT players rode past marinas on The Pearl, Qatar’s most exclusive district. They cruised into Porto Arabia and down a two-lane road with blue-green water on either side. They arrived at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski to find waving American flags and unmatched luxury, an entertainment lounge and a private beach.
“Unbelievable,” midfielder Brenden Aaronson said of the accommodations.