The Brazil 2014 Fan Zone, hosted by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) at Katara Beach in Doha, has exceeded all expectations of attending fans.

Supporters from Qatar, Egypt, Syria, Brazil, Holland and Iceland, all gave their seal of approval to the open-air, cooled facility, which opened to the public on Saturday.

Football fans have flocked to the state-of-the-art facility at Katara, where they have been able to watch games, play beach soccer and experience a whole range of other exciting activities – all in a comfortably cooled environment.

The crowd inside the Fan Zone reached fever pitch on Monday night with a huge crowd turning up to watch Algeria crash out the competition after a 2-1 defeat against Germany.

Ammar and Rana, a young couple from Syria, said: "We can't believe it is outdoors because it's so cool. The organisers are very friendly and welcoming."

Jackson, a Brazilian fan from India, attended the Fan Zone with his wife and kids. "My children are very excited about the face painting and mascots. We have already booked tickets for Thursday's quarter-finals matches and will continue coming until the end of the tournament."

Maria from Iceland found out about the Fan Zone through a local newspaper and registered online to make sure she didn't miss out on the action.. She said: "The environment is so cool, I am now convinced Qatar will host an amazing World Cup thanks to cooled stadiums. Now I understand how the atmosphere in Qatar [in 2022] will be especially welcoming for families," she added.

Netherlands fan Linda watched her team defeat Mexico in a thrilling match. She admitted: "I can't believe it's so cool inside the fan zone, even with the open roof and temperature outside above 30 degrees, I had to wear a cardigan."

Word of the successful start of Qatar's own cooled Brazil 2014 Fan Zone in Doha also reached fans in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where temperatures this week are touching 30 degrees.

"It's a very good idea," said Ricardo, a Rio de Janeiro native who said he would like to visit Qatar in eight years' time. "In Rio, we always have high temperatures. Air-conditioning would very important also for players. I would like to go and see a new region. Qatar can organise a great World Cup, they will have really nice new stadiums to play in."

Meanwhile Claudia, wearing a Mexico shirt and standing in the shade at the side of the FIFA Fan Fest™ on the Copacabana, was equally impressed: "Wow, open air and cooled? That is very nice. It would be more comfortable."