The 22nd FIFA World Cup 2022 will be held in the Arabic Gulf for the first time between 21 November and 18 December 2022. Scheduled to occur in Qatar, this is a first for the Arab world and only the second time it will be held in greater Asia. It will also be the last tournament to host only 32 teams, with the World Cup tournament scheduled in 2026 increasing to 48 teams. Because of the intense summers in the Gulf and Ramadan during March and April, the decision was made to schedule the tournament for the Asian winter, when the weather would be more favourable for players and spectators alike. A total of 64 matches will be played out over 28 days in 8 different FIFA World Cup 2022 venues across Qatar, all within a 46-mile radius.
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World Cup 2022 venues
Lusail Stadium
Lusail Iconic Stadium is the flagship of the FIFA World Cup 2022 venues. This newly built zero-waste stadium will form the centre of attraction post World Cup in Lusail City. Construction of Lusail Stadium commenced in 2017 and was due for completion in 2020. Due to several delays, the stadium was only completed in 2022.
Traditional Arabic art inspired the bowl-shaped design. The stadium will be converted into a community hub with shopping centres, sports facilities, health clinics and schools for the City of Lusail after the tournament ends. Of the 80,000 seats, half will be donated to sports facilities worldwide to give back to the soccer community.
The largest of all eight FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums has a capacity of 80,000 seats. The final match will be played here at 6 pm Arabic Standard Time on 18 December 2022.
Al Bayt Stadium
Al Bayt Stadium, situated in Al Khor, will be the starting point of the FIFA World Cup 2022 venues, with the first match kicking off on 21 November at 7 pm AST. This FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium, with a capacity of 60,000 fans, was specifically built for the 2022 tournament, and construction began in 2015, with the inaugural match played on 30 November 2021 during the 2021 Arab Cup. Reminiscent of the inside of a Bedouin tent, the exterior stadium design is brightly coloured in red, black and white. The roof is retractable to allow for ventilation amid the scorching heat of the Arabic summers, and the name hails from traditional Bedouin tents or “Bayt AL Sha’ar”. After the World Cup, the top tier will be removed, thus reducing the seats of the FIFA World Cup 2022 venue to 32,000; the removed seating will be used for the 2030 Asian Games.
Al Janoub Stadium
Although plans for Al Janoub, also known as Al Wakrah Stadium, were presented in 2013, construction only got underway in 2016. This Stadium was completed in 201; this FIFA World Cup 2022 venue has 40,000 seats and opened on 16 May 2019 to host a match between Al-Duhail and Al-Sadd during the Amir Cup. The official home of the Al Wakrah Soccer Club was designed to echo the hulls of a traditional dhow fishing boat, which is reflected in timber and other traditional materials. The roof is retractable and composed of three shells, inspired by the sails of dhow boats used by local pearl divers. Bowed beams hold up the roof, and the arches are an impressive 230m long. The FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium is only eligible to host World Cup matches up to the quarter-finals, after which the capacity will be reduced by half, and they will rename it the Al Wakrah Sports Club. The complex boasts a shopping centre with a green roof and a multipurpose centre with a swimming pool and spas.
Al Rayyan Stadium
Opened in 2020, the newly renamed Al Rayyan Stadium is home to the Al Rayyan Soccer Club and the Al Kharitiyath Sports Club. Built in 2003 and named after the Emir of Qatar at the time, Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium initially only had 21,282 seats. It was demolished in 2015 and rebuilt to now boast a shaded seating capacity of 40,740, which will be reduced to 21,000 posts World Cup tournament. The new FIFA World Cup 2022 venue renovation additions include a huge membrane to be used as a projection screen for tournament information, news and commercials. Architects drew inspiration from the rolling dunes in the vicinity, incorporating the dune shapes into the structure’s exterior along with symbols of Qatari culture. The inauguration of the upgraded stadium took place on 18 December 2020, exactly two years before the scheduled final of the 2022 tournament. The stadium has since hosted various matches, including four matches, during the FIFA Arab Cup 2021.
Khalifa International Stadium
The principal stadium of football in Qatar, the Khalifa International Stadium, was built in 1976 as the flagship venue for the Gulf Cup and initially had a capacity of 20,000 spectators. It has been upgraded several times, and in 2006 they increased the seating to 40,000 for the 2006 Asian Games. The stadium in Doha forms part of the Doha Sports City complex, including the Aspire Tower, Hamad Aquatic Center and the Aspire Academy. In 2014, the refurbishment of all stands, hospitality facilities and roof construction covered almost 70% of the stadium from the western side. The main stand was upgraded to include a new press area and more VIP suites. Completed in 2017, it was the first of the FIFA World Cup 2022 venues to be finished and was utilised in the IAAF World Athletics Championships in 2019. State-of-the-art cooling technology provides cool air for fans, using almost 40% less energy than conventional systems. They also boast their own turf “nursery”, used to grow the hybrid pitch that will be applied to all stadiums for the 2022 tournament matches.
Education City Stadium
Situated in the Education City district of Al Rayyan, this FIFA World Cup 2022 venue is surrounded by academic facilities, and its design is focused on accessibility. Also known as the “Diamond of the Desert”, the exterior design features triangular arabesque patterns that change colour as it reflects sunlight during the day. Inspired by diamonds, the design represents quality, resilience and durability, focusing on sustainability, with almost 55% of materials used from sustainable sources and 28% from recycled materials. The stadiums’ carbon footprint was reduced with smart building systems, a monitoring system that controls water and energy consumption in real-time and environmentally friendly construction methods. This FIFA World Cup 2022 venue received a five-star rating for sustainability from the Global Sustainability Assessment System for its commitment to protecting the environment. The third stadium to be completed has a capacity of 40,000 fans, which will be reduced by almost half after the tournament ends. The first match was played on 3 September 2020, a month after the official televised opening on 15 June 2020.
Stadium 974
Stadium 974, previously known as the Ras Abou Aboud Stadium, is considered one of the most innovative designs of all eight FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums. Inspired by Qatar’s rich maritime history and international trade, it is a temporary structure built from 974 shipping containers, with 974 also being the international dialling code of Qatar. The 40,000-seat stadium will be dismantled after use and is the first temporary stadium used in a World Cup. The property, situated on a 450,000 square-meter waterfront site on the shore of Doha’s West Bay, will be developed for the local community to enjoy. Inaugurated on 20 November 2021 during a digital launch, the stadium officially opened with a match between the United Arab Emirates and Syria on 30 November 2021 during the Arab Cup group match rounds.
Al Thumama Stadium
Just 12km south of Doha centre, Al Thumama Stadium has Arabic culture woven through its entire design. Inspired by the “gahfiya” or “taqiyah”, a traditional Muslim cap commonly worn by boys and men of the region, they adorned the beautiful partially covered circular structure with patterns reminiscent of the fabric traditionally used for the headpieces. Construction began in 2017 and, after four years, was opened on 22 October 2021 for the 49th Amir Cup final. With seating for 40,000 fans, the stadium will host 6 group matches, one round of 16 and one quarter-final match during the World Cup 2022. The upper tier will be removed, reducing the capacity by half, and several commercial and retail units will be developed to serve the community, as well as a mosque and hotel within the structure.
Qatar has gone above, and beyond to ensure the FIFA World Cup 2022 venues are built using sustainable methods, utilises energy-efficient cooling systems and waste reduction management, and has striven to reduce its carbon footprint to aid the environment.
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