QATAR Gulf of uncertainty

South American fans have been the life and soul of the party at the last two World Cups, stopping at almost nothing to see their teams play. In 2014, tens of thousands of Argentinians, Chileans and Uruguayans defied Brazil’s dismal transport infrastructure by driving to and around the host nation, with many simply sleeping in their vehicles in the streets.

Last year, South Americans again flocked to the tournament and comfortably outnumbered Europeans. Russia may have been distant but it was relatively cheap, not too difficult to get around and its policy of visa-free entry for South Americans meant they could visit