Football fans may end up sleeping in Bedouin-style desert camps during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as the country faces a potential accommodation shortage.

Most of the 500,000 predicted fans are expected to stay in hotels and apartments — but thousands could also camp under canvas in desert areas close to stadiums.

In its World Cup bid in 2010, Qatar said it would create more than 55,000 rooms, but in January authorities said just 46,000 rooms would be ready.

FIFA's requirement was for 60,000 rooms to be available.

World Cup organisers said they are considering the desert camps as a creative and culturally authentic way for Qatar to meet FIFA requirements.

"At the heart of this World Cup is a commitment to showcase the hospitality and friendship of the Middle East," a spokesperson for Qatar's World Cup Supreme Committee told the news agency Reuters.

"As a result, we are actively researching the concept of supporters sleeping under the stars."

Desert camping is a popular winter activity for Qataris — known for assembling luxurious sites among the sand dunes.

Delays in building after billions spent on infrastructure

Since winning its bid, Qatar has spent tens of billions of dollars upgrading infrastructure and has built scores of hotels and apartment complexes.

However some projects have stalled, including a $15.8 billion bridge and underwater tunnel link across Doha bay, and building on at least two hotels in the capital.

Billions has been spent on infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. ( Tracey Holmes, file photo )

A Supreme Committee spokesperson said Qatar was on track to deliver the minimum number of hotel rooms required by FIFA.

The country is also considering promoting private letting services such as Airbnb and putting up spectators on cruise ships docked along the coast, a government official said.

If fans choose to stay in neighbouring countries, such as the UAE and Bahrain and fly in to watch matches, that could further reduce a potential strain on accommodation.

Reuters