Last updated on August 21st, 2023 at 05:02 pm
This time the FIFA World Qatar World Cup is being played in eight stadiums in 5 cities, let us know about the seating capacity of these stadiums and their history.
1. Opening match: Al Bayt Stadium
2. Final: Lusail Stadium
1. Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
The Al-Rayyan Stadium, popularly known as the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home to Al-Rayyan Sports Club and Al-Kharitiyath Sports Club. The stadium of football is named after Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, who was the Emir of Qatar from 1960 to 1972.
The former stadium, which was built in 2003 and had a seating capacity of 21,282, was demolished in 2015. The new Al Rayyan Stadium has a seating capacity of forty-five hundred. Doha is located about 20 km west of the stadium.
One of eight stadiums being converted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar is the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. The Ahmad bin Ali Stadium was demolished in 2015 to make way for the Al Rayyan Stadium. It is anticipated that 90 percent of the rubble resulting from the demolition of the stadium will be reused either for the new stadium or for public art projects.
Construction of the new stadium started at the start of 2016. Al-Balagh and Larsen & Toubro joint venture did this. The stadium’s capacity will be reduced to 21,000 seats after the World Cup. Qatar is currently hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, for which the new stadium was built. The renovation includes a membrane that will act as a huge ‘media facade’ screen for projections, news, commercials, sports updates, current tournament information, and matches.
All seats were shaded and the seating capacity was increased to 40,740. The inauguration of the stadium took place on Qatar’s National Day, 18 December 2020, exactly two years before the country hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Two venues were used for the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup, one of which was the stadium. FIFA Arab Cup 2021 was hosted in the stadium with four matches.
2. Lusail Stadium
Lusail Stadium, also known as Lusail Iconic Stadium, is a football stadium in Lusail, Qatar. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final game will be held at the stadium.
One of eight stadiums being converted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, the Lusail Stadium is the biggest stadium in Qatar. About 20 km north of Doha is where the stadium is located.
The Lusail Super Cup game was inaugurated at Lusail Stadium on 9 September 2022. Ten matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including the final, will be hosted at Lusail Iconic Stadium.
3. Al-Bayt Stadium
Al-Bayt Stadium will have a retractable roof and will be used for football matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which starts on November 20, 2022. Webuild S.p.A. and Cimolai were awarded the stadium’s construction contract in 2015.
The stadium received sustainability certificates of green design, construction management, and energy efficiency in January 2020. Doha is located about 35 km away from the stadium.
One of eight stadiums being converted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, the Al Bayt Stadium is the second largest stadium after Lusail Stadium. Dar Al-Handasah designed the stadium.
4. Al-Wakrah Stadium
Al-Janoub Stadium, which was formerly known as Al-Wakrah Stadium, is a retractable roof football stadium in Al-Wakrah, Qatar that was inaugurated on 16 May 2019.
Khalifa International Stadium is the second of eight stadiums being renovated for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Al-Janoub Stadium was designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid together with the firm AECOM.
The MEP services design was created by JAIN consultants (Jain and Partners, Dubai). The stadium has a design that is both postmodernist and neo-futurist and features curved lines.
The roof’s appearance of Al-Wakrah Stadium was inspired by the sails of traditional Dhow boats, used by pearl divers from the region, weaving through currents of the Persian Gulf.
The Qatar Stars League will be held at Al-Wakrah SC’s official seat. Al-Wakrah SC’s football matches for the Qatar Stars League will be held at the official seat. After the World Cup, the stadium’s capacity is expected to be reduced from 40,000 to 20,000. Doha is located about 22 km south of the stadium.
5. Khalifa International Stadium
The Khalifa International Stadium, also known as National Stadium, is part of the Doha Sports City complex that includes Aspire Academy, Hamad Aquatic Centre, and the Aspire Tower.
Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s former Emir, gave it its name. This stadium was the venue for the final of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) awarded it a four-star rating in 2017, the first in the world to be given this rating. About 30,000 workers are employed by the stadium.
The stadium is about 5 km west of Doha. The Khalifa International Stadium, which is the first of eight stadiums being converted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, has been completed.
6. Education City Stadium
Education City Stadium, located in Al Rayyan, Qatar, was built as a venue in time for the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar. The Qatar Foundation’s Education City is home to several university campuses, one of which is home to the stadium.
The stadium will retain 25,000 seats for use by university athletic teams following the FIFA World Cup. On September 3, 2020, the stadium hosted its first official match, played in the 2020–21 Qatar Stars League season.
Doha is located about 7 km northwest of the stadium. One of eight stadiums being converted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar is the Education City Stadium. In June 2020, the construction of the stadium was completed, making it the third World Cup stadium to be completed. It opened officially on 15 June 2020.
7. Education City Stadium
Stadium 974, formerly known as Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, is a football stadium in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar. It is a temporary venue made from 974 recycled shipping containers that will open on 30 November 2021 and host matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after which it will be dismantled. This is the first temporary venue in FIFA World Cup history. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Stadium 974 will host 7 matches.
8. Al-Thumama Stadium
The Al-Thumama Stadium is located in Al Thumama, Qatar, and is primarily used for football matches. One of eight stadiums built for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022, Al Thumama Stadium is a state-of-the-art venue that will host matches up to the quarter-final stage.
Its location is near Hamad International Airport. A joint venture between Al Jaber Engineering of Qatar and Tekfen Construction of Turkey significantly involves the construction work.
Ibrahim Jaidah, the Chief Architect of the Arab Engineering Bureau, drew inspiration for the architectural design from the traditional taqiyah hat, a cap worn by men and boys across the Middle East.
The stadium will be surrounded by a fifty thousand meter square (540,000 sq ft) public park. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 40,000 seats. After the World Cup, half the seats in the stadium will be removed and given to other countries.
The stadium will open on 22 October 2021. Eight matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be hosted at Al Thumama Stadium.
