sport news World Cup: It'll cost £5K to follow England to the final - guide to ... trends now

More than one million fans are expected to descend on Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup – but concerns remain over where they will all stay.

Since Qatar was controversially awarded the tournament in 2010, the authorities have been engaged in a huge construction project, building hotels and apartments, as well as eight stadiums in five cities to host the matches. 

Gareth Southgate's England have booked their place, while Wales and Scotland are in the play-offs to determine whether they will play in the tournament.

FIFA has already sold 800,000 tickets for the competition with thousands more due to be allocated to supporters of the 32 competing nations in May.

Qatar plans to have 130,000 rooms available for the 28-day, blue riband tournament. But European fan groups have expressed concern about the availability of accommodation and the cost, with the possibility some supporters may have to base themselves in neighbouring countries and fly in.

There will be further opportunities to buy World Cup tickets later this year, so if you are hoping to follow the fortunes of England, Wales or Scotland in the Middle East this winter, here is everything you need to know….

Can I still buy a ticket?

Yes, although ticket sales are closed at the moment, there will be further opportunities to bag a seat at the 2022 World Cup.

The first round of sales closed on March 30, with 800,000 tickets sold. The second sales period concluded at the end of April, in which 23.5 million requests were made.

Most applications came from Qataris, followed by fans living in Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the USA.

FIFA is still verifying these requests and supporters will find out if they have been successful on May 31.

After that, tickets not allocated will be made available up to and throughout the tournament. But you will have to keep your eyes on the FIFA website, as tickets will go fast.

But even if I get a ticket, will I have somewhere to kip?

Firstly, you need a match ticket to book a place to stay, which can be done through the Qatar 2022 World Cup portal.

Fan groups say there is still a lot of uncertainty around accommodation. The Qatar authorities have said there will be 130,000 rooms available to supporters, but whether that will meet demand, or provide enough at the cheaper price points many will be looking for, is unclear.

We will only know the true picture when the next batch of tickets have been allocated on May 31 and travellers start booking.

Accommodation is currently available through the portal in fan villages, apartments, hotels and on two cruise ships, the MSC Europa and MSC Poesia, which will be moored at the Grand Terminal in Doha.

If you can afford it, the ships are surely the way to go. They have almost 4,000 cabins available and offer a deluxe experience. Qatar is a Muslim country so alcohol is not widely served, however, the bars will be open onboard.

The Poesia is the smaller and more affordable of the two, with cabins starting at £150 per night. It boasts three swimming pools, poolside cinema, tennis court, waterfall a and a Zen Garden. Or, you can just relax in one of the many bars. There is even a dedicated Cigar Room, where you can light up and reflect on England's success... or failure.

The Europa is brand new and offers state-of-the-art luxury; it is more expensive and cabins start at £294 a night. The ship, which can accommodate 6,700 passengers, has  a 100-metre promenade, a slide scooshing down 11 decks, a water park, bumper cars, seven swimming pools, 13 restaurants and bars, and its own microbrewery.

There is luxury on land, too. The world's biggest hotel chains are well represented in Doha with all the usual pampering, or for couples and small groups there are apartments and villas ranging from basic to very comfortable.

At the bottom end of the market is the purpose built, Soviet style, Barwa Barahat Al Janoub Cluster A, where a room for £67-a-night will get you the use of a bed, hairdryer, iron, microwave and fridge. If you want a cooker, you'll have to pay more. If you wish to be at the heart of the action, Ain Khaled Villas, are in central Doha and will set you back £737-a-night.

Qatar is building fan villages, too, which are the budget option, where Football Supporters Europe expect there to be 9,000 beds available.

Currently, the tented communes are not completed, but there are cabins ready to book on the portal. For £166 per night two people can bunk up in their own pre-fab, where they will be provided with two 'free' bottles of water per day, a fridge, bed linen and bathroom towels.

What if I cannot secure accommodation in Qatar?

Neighbouring countries are gearing up to pick up any slack.

Doha-based news network Al Jazeera reported last month that Iran is preparing to welcome visitors on the island of Kish, a 40-minute flight from Doha.

Understandably, given the six-year detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe by Iranian authorities, which only came to an end this year, British fans might not fancy it.

In fact, don't even think about it. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says the 'same risks apply to British nationals as in mainland Iran' and 'you could still be the target of arbitrary arrest and detention'. The government advises against all travel.

Other options? Saudi Arabia, which is a 90-minute flight from Doha, Abu Dhabi, a one-hour flight and Dubai, 70 minutes by air, have all been mentioned as possibilities.

How much is all this going to set me back?

[Sharp intake of breath…]

OK, so assuming you travel return from London, follow England's glorious run to the final and attend all eight matches along the way, sit in the cheapest seats and stay in the least expensive accommodation, the Football Supporters' Association has calculated you will part with £5,000, before you pay for any food and drink.

But don't forget, you will receive two free bottles of water in your pre-fabricated cabin, so there is a saving to factor in there. Every little helps...

If the Three Lions bomb out in the group stage and you leggit home, it will come down to just over £2,000. 

However, that's nothing compared to staying outside Qatar.

If you have relocate to cities in the region, the cost is going to sky-rocket. The FSA have checked out prices for 24-hour returns to Doha during the group stage of the tournament… The cheapest flights from and to Dubai are £814, Abu Dhabi £703 and Oman £714. 

And we don't know you'll be saving with the two bottles of free water in those locations, either… Costs are going to mount up.

Fan groups believe that when the next tranche of tickets is approved some supporters may decide not to take up their allocation, once they calculate the cost.

So, I bag a ticket, I book some accommodation, I empty my piggy bank and I'm good to go…?

Not quite. You then have to apply for a Hay'ya card through the Qatar 2022 World Cup portal.

The Hay'ya card is not a 'nice to have', it is a 'must have'. Essentially it is your visa to enter the country and you must have completed an application and have approval, before you travel to Doha.

Fans will receive a notification on their phone when their application is successful and on arrival they can use that to

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