Football fever is palpable at Qatar Fan Zone as people from communities across the country continue to flock to Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena to cheer for their favourite teams.

Organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the Ministry of Culture and Sports (MCS) and Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), Qatar Fan Zone has welcomed more than 18,000 fans so far, with the match between Egypt and Russia being the best attended after more than 2,100 spectators enjoyed the action.

Thousands more fans are expected to attend this weekend's matches, starting with Thursday's games: Denmark vs Australia (kick-off 3:00 PM), France vs Peru (6:00 PM) and Argentina vs Croatia (9:00 PM).

On Friday, it's Brazil vs Costa Rica (3:00 PM), Nigeria vs Iceland (6:00 PM) and Serbia vs Switzerland (9:00 PM), while on Saturday, Tunisia face Belgium (3:00 PM), Mexico take on South Korea (6:00 PM) and Germany go up against Sweden (9:00 PM).

In addition to screening live matches from the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the fan zone features entertainment, a designated zone for children and families, and more than 40 food and beverage carts.

Visiting fans have praised the family-friendly atmosphere and abundance of activities for people of all ages.

Egyptian fan Ramy Ghanem said: "It's great to be able to bring my children to a place that brings together Egyptians and other Arabs to cheer for our national team. The atmosphere, the hospitality and the fun activities for children all make this a complete experience for the whole family."

Jihan, a Tunisian mother of two, added: "I brought my two daughters and even though they are not football fans they have been caught up in the excitement and enjoying the fun activities that cater to children. The whole event is fantastic and we're grateful to the organisers."

Qatar Fan Zone has been giving passionate fans the chance to sample a World Cup atmosphere, while celebrating the rich culture of sports in Qatar, as the country gets ever closer to hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup™. It is one of three fan zones being organised by the SC during the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, with others being held atKatara and Hamad International Airport.

While Qatar Fan Zone and all its entertainment offerings – including live music, family-friendly activities and football freestyler shows – are available for free, visitors have the option to upgrade their experience by booking a hospitality suite through qtickets.com. The suites are located on the second floor of the arena and offer private service courtesy of The W Doha Hotel (food and beverages available at extra cost), an exceptional view, plush furniture, board games and PlayStation.

Qatar Fan Zone is also part of this year's Qatar Summer Festival, which kicked off on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. Organised by QTA, the 11-week festival is a nationwide celebration of the country's diverse retail and hospitality offerings, complemented by a host of entertainment and sports activities.

The fan zone is open daily from 2:00 PM until midnight until 28 June, and will be open from 4:00 PM until midnight between 30 June and 15 July. Operating on match days only, it is powered by Vodafone Qatar as the official telecommunications partner and supported by The W Doha Hotel & Residences, the official hospitality partner.

For the latest news from Qatar Fan Zone follow the SC (@roadto2022) and Qatar Calendar (@QatarCalendar) on social media.>