Al Bayt Stadium
City: Al Khor | Capacity: 60,000 seats | Opened: 2021 | Matches: 5x Group Matches (incl. Opening Match), 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final, 1x Semi-Final
Al Bayt Stadium was constructed by AS+P Albert Speer + Partner and Dar Al-Handasah architectural firms. The 60,000 capacity Stadium will host the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and seven other matches in the duration of the tournament.
It is located in Al Khor, a city in Northern Qatar famous for fishing and pearl diving. Its design is inspired by traditional nomadic tents of the Arabs who used to wander the nation’s deserts.
It was inaugurated in early 2020 but opened in 2021 officially.
Lusail Stadium
City: Lusail | Capacity: 80,000 seats | Opening: 2022 | Matches: 5x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final, 1x Semi-Final, Final
The Lusail Stadium is being constructed by British architects Foster + Partners and Populous. It is the largest of all eight stadiums which will be hosting the world’s best in November.
It is an 80,000 capacity Stadium and it is designed to mimic the interplay of light and shadow seen in the Fanar lantern, a cultural heritage of the Qatari people.
The government of Qatar plans to transform the stadium into a multi-purpose community hub to promote sustainable living after the World Cup.
It is the local organising committee’s intention to make it one of the iconic football stadiums of the world just like the Maracana, the Estadio Azteca and the Wembley Stadium.
Al Janoub Stadium
City: Al Wakrah | Capacity: 40,000 seats | Opened: 2019 | Matches: 5x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16
Al Janoub Stadium was constructed by Zaha Hadid Architects + AECOM architectural firms. The stadium was previously named after the city.
The Qatari government also intends to convert the stadium into a people project after the World Cup ends which shows the intentionality of the nation of Qatar towards sustainable development.
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
City: Al Rayyan | Capacity: 40,000 seats | Opened: 2020 | Matches: 5x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium was constructed by BDP Pattern, Ramboll, and AECOM architectural firms. It is currently home to one of Qatar’s most celebrated football clubs, Al Rayyan FC.
The 40,000 fans who will be watching matches at the stadium will enjoy a lightweight canopy and advanced cooling systems to ensure maximum comfort at every game.
Khalifa International Stadium
City: Doha | Capacity: 40,000 seats | Opened: 1976 | Matches: 5x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, Match for Third Place
Khalifa International Stadium was built in 1976 and is being renovated for the 2022 World Cup by the Aspire Zone Foundation.
The renovation will see the stadium expanded to accommodate 40,000 fans who will enjoy maximum comfort with advanced cooling technology to help them enjoy their matches in a comfortable environment.
The pitch will also have these cooling technologies to help the players play better as the Qatari Desert weather could affect performances.
Education City Stadium
City: Doha | Capacity: 40,000 seats | Opened: 2020 | Matches: 5x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final
Education City Stadium is so named because it is situated in Qatar’s centre of knowledge and innovation in the city of Doha.
It is the most aesthetically pleasing of the eight stadiums that will be hosting the world’s best come November 2022. It was constructed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects.
A cool fact about the stadium is that it sits below sea level where the temperatures are cooler, because during the construction excavators uncovered rocks that date back 20-30 million years.
This made them dig 17 meters further down in order to lay the pitch below sea level for cooler temperatures.
Stadium 974
City: Ras Abu Aboud | Capacity: 40,000 seats | Opened: 2021 | Matches: 5x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16
Formerly named after the city, Stadium 974 was repurposed for the World Cup by Fenwick Iribarren Architects.
Just as the Education City stadium is considered the most aesthetically pleasing of all eight venues, Stadium 974 is considered the most innovative.
It is inspired by the nation’s international trade and seafaring. The number “974” is the international dialling code for Qatar which makes it a very significant part of the project. “974” also refers to the number of shipping containers used, or rather recycled, for its construction.
The Qatari government intends to take down the stadium totally and the space will be used as a waterfront development for the local community after the World Cup.
