World Cup Stadiums in Qatar 2022

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will not only be the first tournament to be held in the Arab region, but it will be the most compact, allowing fans to attend more than one game a day.

Each stadium, training facility and fan zone is equipped with solar-powered cooling technology to keep moderate temprature. All stadiums are eco-friendly and their temperature will be controllable.

Qatar is home for less than 3 million people, so the legacy of the tournament has to be managed carefully. To that end, the tournament organizers have pledged to build stadiums with modular elements, which will be reconfigured after the tournament to provide a lasting legacy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup far beyond Qatar’s borders.

After the tournament, around 170,000 seats will be disassembled and provided to developing nations to help develop their sports infrastructure. As many as 22 new stadiums will be created in emerging economies, and this reconfiguration will leave Qatar with stadiums between 20-25,000 seats, which are suitable for its domestic entertainment needs.

Al Bayt Stadium

Host city:Al Khor

Gross capacity:60,000

Matches planned:Opening game and all matches through to the semi-finals

Al Bayt stadium can seat up to 60,000 spectators. It is unique with its giant tent structure covering the whole stadium that is named after bayt al sha’ar – tents historically used by nomadic peoples in Qatar and the Gulf region.

The stadium’s design honors Qatar’s past and present while being a model of green development and sustainability. After the tournament, Al Bayt will be downsized to 32,000 seats.

Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

Host city:Umm Al Afaei

Gross capacity:40,000

Matches planned:Group matches, round of 16 Located in Umm Al Afaei, west of central Doha, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium will host 40,000 spectators using modular elements forming an upper tier in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It will be downsized to nearly 20,000 seats after the tournament.

The design of the stadium and the surrounding buildings reflect the Qatari environment. As for its external facade, it is in the form of ripples of sand dunes, while the distinctive geometric shapes depict the beauty of the desert and the local flora and fauna.

Al Janoub Stadium

Host city:Al Wakrah

Gross capacity:40,000

Matches planned:Group matches and round of 16 Al Janoub Stadium lies in the southern city of Al Wakrah. It has a capacity of 40,000. The stadium’s design reflects the wind-filled sails of Qatar’s traditional dhow boats – in tribute to Al Wakrah’s fishing and pearl diving past. After the tournament, Al Janoub’s capacity will be reduced, with seats donated to other sporting projects around the world.

Khalifa International Stadium

Host city:Doha

Gross capacity:40,000

Matches planned:Group matches, round of 16, and play off for third place game

The redesigned Khalifa International Stadium was originally built in 1976 and renovated and expanded in 2005 to serve as the centerpiece of the 2006 Asian Games hosted by Qatar.

The stadium, which includes sweeping arcs and partially covered stands, is the centerpiece of Aspire Zone, a sports complex that includes Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Hamad Aquatic Center (Limitless), ASPETAR Sports Medicine Hospital and many other sporting venues.

Attached to the stadium via a walkway is the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, adding to the appreciation of how this venue cherishes its past as it builds towards an exciting future.

Education City Stadium

Host city:Al Rayyan (Education City)

Gross capacity:40,000

Matches planned:Group matches, round of 16, and and quarter-finals

The new Education City Stadium is located in the midst of several world-class university campuses at Qatar’s global center of excellence, Education City.

The stadium can seat up to 40,000 spectators, and it takes the form of a jagged diamond that sparkle as the sun moves across the sky. Following the FIFA World Cup, the stadium will retain almost half of its seats for use by university athletic teams.

Lusail Stadium

Host city:Lusail

Gross capacity:80,000

Matches planned:All matches through to the final match Located in Lusail City, the new Lusail Stadium is one of the primary stadiums of Qatar’s World Cup and will host the final ceremony for the 2022 tournament. After the tournament, Lusail Stadium will be transformed into a community center with schools, shops, cafes, sports facilities, and health clinics as part of Qatar's commitment to sustainable development.

974 Stadium

Host city:Doha

Gross capacity:40,000

Matches planned:Group matches and round of 16 974 stadium project is a pioneering project in the world of sports stadium construction. Built from shipping containers, this stadium will be completely dismantled and the materials that were used in the construction will be re-utilized. In addition to 974 being the international dialing code for Qatar, the name of the stadium comes from the number of containers used to build it. The stadium is located minutes away from Hamad International Airport and it overlooks the Gulf Coast and the fascinating scene of the West Bay skyscrapers.

Al Thumama Stadium

Host city:Doha

Gross capacity:40,000

Matches planned:Group matches, round of 16, and quarter finals

Al Thumama Stadium is a distinct Arab architectural icon, as it is inspired by the traditional qahfiya (the cap worn under the Ghutra and Egal) in the Arab world. This design was chosen because it is a cultural commonality among Arabs in the Arab world. Therefore, it expresses the Arab civilization's depth and the intertwined cultural-historical legacy of the Arab countries.

The stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats that will be reduced after the tournament to 20,000.

Ref: World Cup Stadiums in Qatar 2022 (hukoomi.gov.qa , insider)