2022 World Cup: Taiwan fans likely to be listed as Chinese, say Qatar officials

Application form for entry visa to the Arab nation does not list Taiwan, or even Chinese Taipei as an option

A contact form for questions also does not allow the entry of the international telephone dialling code for Taiwan

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Qatar’s touristic Souq Waqif bazar in the capital Doha. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:30am, 15 Jun 2022Updated: 9:33am, 15 Jun 2022

An identification card that doubles as an entry visa for the World Cup in Qatar is likely to list Taiwan fans as being from China, a senior Qatari official said on Tuesday, after the island complained its citizens could not register as Taiwanese.

The issue is extremely sensitive for Taiwan, which bristles at China’s claims of sovereignty over it, and particularly its efforts to claim people from Taiwan as being Chinese nationals.

Qatar World Cup officials have repeatedly said all nationalities are welcome during the tournament. All ticket holders must apply for the Hayya card used to identify fans, which also serves as their entry visa for Qatar.

A spectator watches the draw for the World Cup finals in Doha. Photo: Reuters

But the drop-down menu for the application does not mention Taiwan, or even the term “Chinese Taipei”, under which Taiwan competes in most international sporting events to avoid political problems.

A contact form for questions also does not allow the entry of the international telephone dialling code for Taiwan.

Taiwan’s representative office in Saudi Arabia, which oversees Qatar, has been trying to find out what was happening, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou.

“At present we are still awaiting a response from the relevant body in Qatar,” she added.