Sports News

FIFA World Cup

Which stadiums will host the Qatar 2022 World Cup?
22/03/29
12:18
sokapro-Which stadiums will host the Qatar 2022 World Cup?

Qatar has unveiled a total of eight magnificent world class stadiums that will host the global show piece.

Stadium 974: 974 is the international dialling code for Qatar and it is also the exact number of shipping containers used in the construction of the stadium. It is located on the shores of the Gulf across the water from Doha's dazzling West Bay skyline. The 40,000 seater capacity stadium will be the first first fully demountable tournament venue in FIFA World Cup history. It thus introduces bold new ideas in tournament legacy planning and sets standards in sustainability. It will host around seven matches during the World Cup up to the round of 16 stage. After the conclusion of the tournament, the stadium will make way for a waterfront development for local people to enjoy. The venue helped to keep construction costs down as fewer building materials were required following the venue's temporary nature and clever modular design. Stadium 974 has created an innovative blueprint that many others will follow.

Al Janoub Stadium: The 40,000 seater capacity stadium located in Al Wakrah was opened in the Amir Cup final on 16th May 2019. Al Wakrah is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas of Qatar and it was a centre for fishing and pearl diving. The design of the stadium was inspired by the traditional dhow boats used in the fishing and pearl diving pursuits. Bowed beams hold up the roof, resembling a ship's hull. After the tournament, it will be reduced to a 20,000 seater capacity with the other 20,000 seats being donated to football development projects overseas. 

Khalifa International Stadium: Built in 1976 and renovated in 2017 for the FIFA World Cup, the stadium is located in Al Rayyan, Khalifa International Stadium has long being the corner stone of the country's sporting tradition – and the gatekeeper to its promising future. It has a capacity of 45,416 and has already hosted iconic games such as the FIFA Club World Cup matches, Arabian Gulf Cup, and IAAF World Athletics Championships as well as the AFC Asian Cup. Located at the centre of all the 2022 venues, the stadium will play a pivotal role in this tournament, whose unique geography and advanced transport systems will make it the best-connected international football competition ever. 

Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Located in the city of Al Rayyan, the stadium is the home of Qatar Stars League giants Al Rayyan SC and boasts a capacity of 40,000 seats. It was built back in 2003 and wen through renovation in 2016 and was launched on 18th December 2020 with a spectacular debut that included the Amir Cup final. It will host the tournament up to the quarter final stage and ones the world cup is over, half of the seats will be given away to football development projects abroad. 

Education City Stadium: The 40,000 seater capacity stadium is located in Qatar Foundation's Education City in Al Rayyan and is dotted with leading universities, where cutting-edge research is conducted and academics inspire their students to be at their best. It is among the world's best environmentally sustainable stadiums with 20% of its building materials being green. It even received a five-star GSAS (Global Sustainability Assessment System) rating back in 2019 before it was launched in June 15th 2020. It will host matches through to the quarter final stage of the tournament. Doha's bustling city centre just 7km away away from the stadium making it accessible either by road or metro. Education City Stadium will serve as a symbol of progress, sustainability, and innovation for decades to come. 

Al Thumama Stadium: It is located south of the City of Doha and it is has a 40,000 seater capacity. It will host the matches up to and including the quarter finals. It has been designed not only to celebrate the tournament itself but also Arab culture and traditions. It's bold, circular form reflects the gahfiya – a traditional woven cap adorned by men and boys all across the Middle East for centuries. The headcap marks every young boy's path to adulthood. While the stadium symbolises Qatar youth, it also points out the country's emergence as a key player on the world sporting scene. 

Al Bayt Stadium: The 64,000 capacity stadium located in Al Khor will host a total of nine matches in the world cup including the opening match of the tournament. The stadium is very unique in that it is covered by a giant tent structure and it takes its name from bayt al sha'ar – tents historically used by nomadic people in Qatar and the Gulf region.. It will also host the semi finals of the tournament. Al Khor which is located 35km north of Doha has a natural ability to bring cultures together and thus made it a good choice in hosting a FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium. Like true nomad's tent, it is portable and the upper tier of modular design seating will be removed following the conclusion of the tournament and given to developing nations that need sporting infrastructure, again a reminder of Qatar's generous spirit. 

Lusail International Stadium: It is located in Lusail and has a seating capacity of 20,000. It is here that the FIFA World Cup 2022 final will be staged. Lusail stadium will write a new page in Qatar's history while paying homage to its reach past. Its shape and facade echo the intricate decorative motifs on vessels, bowls and other art pieces found across the Arab and Islamic world during the rise of civilisation in the region. Lusail which is located 15km north of central Doha is newly built state of the art metropolis and Lusail International Stadium is at the centre of it. Ones the tournament is over, most of its 80,000 seats will be removed and donated to sporting projects across the globe as it will be transformed into a multi-purpose community hub with sporting facilities, health clinics, schools, shops, and cafes amongst others.