Qatar will host matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in eight stadiums, seven of which were built specifically for the event every four years, in addition to the renovated Khalifa International Stadium, the largest of which is Lusail Stadium, home of the final.
Below are the eight stadiums that will host the 64 matches of the first World Cup in the Middle East from November 20 to December 18, 2022.
1 – Lusail Stadium: Opened on September 9, 2022 with a match between Al-Hilal, the champions of Saudi Arabia, and Zamalek, the champions of Egypt. Found in the Arab and Islamic worlds during the rise of civilization in the region. .
Its design and construction took into account the use of a number of sustainable methods, including a roof made of advanced material that helps provide protection from hot wind and dust, as well as ensuring that enough sunlight enters for the grass to grow on the field. while providing shade, helping to reduce stadium reliance on air-cooled technology.
The stadium will host 10 matches before the semi-finals and the expected final, and the 80,000-seat stadium, 16 kilometers north of Doha, will become a vital hub for the people of the modern city of Lusail. after the end of the World Cup: “schools, shops, cafes, sports facilities and clinics.” The city’s name comes from “alwasel”, a rare plant native to the Lusail region.
2 Al Bayt Stadium: Its design was inspired by the traditional poetry house or tent inhabited by the Badia people of Qatar and the Gulf region throughout history, who lived as nomads in the Qatar desert in search of pasture and water. It has a capacity of 60,000 spectators and is located at the entrance to the city of Al Khor, 43 km from the city center.
This stadium has a record-breaking grass surface, and since February 2020 began to receive visitors to a public park in the surrounding area, equipped with a fully retractable roof, which will host 9 matches, including the first for Qatar against Ecuador and the Germany-Spain summit in the group stage. to the semi-finals. And the seats in the upper part of the stands are designed in such a way that after the World Cup they can be dismantled.
3- Khalifa International Stadium: A stadium that has witnessed the history of football and athletics in the country. It has been refurbished and added 12,000 seats to host the World Cup. The first World Cup stadium was completed on May 19, 2017 when it hosted the Emir Cup Final in the presence of over 40,000 spectators and its roof. The two arches represent continuity and are connected by a short walkway to the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum 3-2-1.
Built in 1976, the historic stadium is located in the heart of the Aspire Zone Foundation, close to the Aspetar Hospital in Al Rayyan.
The stadium, located 13 km from downtown Doha, has hosted many events such as the 2006 Asian Games, 2011 Asian Cup, 2019 World Championships in Athletics, 24th Arabian Gulf Cup and 2019 Club World Cup.
4. Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium: Located in one of Qatar’s most traditional cities, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan) was announced during the Emir Cup Final on December 18, 2020, coinciding with Qatar’s National Day.
The 40,000-seat stadium on the outskirts of the desert was built on the site of the stadium of the same name, 20 kilometers west of downtown Doha. Its undulating exterior is adorned with symbols representing Qatari culture. The structures surrounding the stadium reflect the nature of Qatar as it is shaped like sand dunes and will be the headquarters of the Al Rayyan club and is scheduled to host 7 World Cup matches up to the 1/8 finals.
5- Stadium 974: A stadium that reflects the international dialing code of Qatar. Its design includes 974 shipping containers and independent steel blocks inspired by Qatar’s maritime and commercial heritage. It should have been called Ras Abu Aboud because it harmonizes with the nearby port.
The first fully dismantled stadium in World Cup history, it can seat 40,000 fans and overlooks the Doha Corniche and the skyscrapers of the West Bay area and can be reached from the metro station at a distance of 800 meters. will host 7 matches until the 1/8 finals. It is located close to Hamad International Airport, 10 km east of downtown Doha, and is the only World Cup stadium out of eight that does not have refrigeration technology.
6. Al-Tumama Stadium. It is distinguished by its skull-inspired design or the traditional headdresses worn by men and children throughout the Arab world.
Its opening coincided with the 49th Emir Cup final in October 2021.
7- Al Janoub Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium was built in one of the oldest inhabited areas of Qatar, which is the southern city of Al Wakra, 23 km from the center of Doha, with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, which will be reduced after the World Cup. Famous throughout its history as a center for pearling and fishing, equipped with innovative cooling technology and a retractable roof, it will host 7 matches from the group stage to the 1/8 finals.
The stadium was announced on 16 May 2019 during its hosting of the Amir Cup final and Al Duhail’s victory over Al Sadd and its name was changed from Al Waqra to Al Janoub.
8 – City stadium “Education”. It represents a chapter in the rich history of Islamic architecture, as its façade is characterized by triangles that form intertwined geometric decorations such as diamond-shaped lines that reflect sunlight and show their color change as the angle changes from which the sun’s rays emerge as it rotates in the sky. from sunrise to sunset.
It is located in the heart of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, 12 km from the city center, and announced its readiness in June 2020 with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, which will be reduced after the World Cup to 20,000 people. , and between the group stage and the quarter-finals of the World Cup, it will host 8 matches.