Qatar's eight World Cup stadiums
- by Agence France-Presse , Oct 18, 2022
Venues include one pop-up stadium, and several others whose seats will be donated elsewhere after the tournament.
• Lusail, Lusail Iconic Stadium (80,000).
Qatar's biggest stadium will host the final on Dec. 18 as well as, among other matches, the first semifinal. Built in Lusail, a planned city for a population of 200,000 people situated 10 miles north of central Doha, there are plans for the stadium to be transformed into a community hub after the World Cup, with most of its seats being removed and donated elsewhere.
• Al-Khor, Al-Bayt Stadium (top photo, 60,000). (Nov. 25: USA vs. England)
The venue for the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador on Nov. 20, as well as the group-stage showdown between Spain and Germany and the second semifinal. It is constructed in the form of a Bedouin tent although there are plans for the upper tier to be removed after the competition. Situated on Qatar's northeast coast, around 20 miles from Doha, it is therefore beyond the reach of the capital's metro system, making it one of the harder venues to access for supporters.
• Al-Rayyan, Education City Stadium (40,000)
Situated among university campuses in Al-Rayyan, just to the west of Doha itself, and reachable by metro, the stadium will notably host one of the quarterfinals. Its capacity will be reduced by half after the tournament with plans for the seats to be donated to developing countries.
• Al-Rayyan, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (40,000). (Nov. 21: USA vs. Wales)
The home of one of Qatar's most successful clubs, Al-Rayyan, the stadium has been built on the site of the old venue of the same name and is one metro stop beyond the nearby Education City. Located where the city meets the desert, its capacity will also be reduced by half after the tournament.
• Doha, Khalifa International Stadium (photo below, 40,000).
Built in 1976, it is the only venue which already existed before Qatar was awarded the World Cup, although it has since been transformed. Hosted the 2011 Asian Cup final and also the final of the 2019 Club World Cup between Liverpool and Flamengo. Will host England's opening clash with Iran.
• Doha, Al-Thumama Stadium (40,000). (Nov. 29: USA vs. Iran)
Situated to the south of central Doha, close to the city's Hamad International Airport, the stadium is built in the form of a gahfiya, the traditional cap worn by men across the Middle East. It will host one of the quarterfinals, while its capacity will be reduced to 20,000 after the World Cup.
• Doha, Stadium 974 (40,000).
Built out of shipping containers on Doha's waterfront, the pop-up stadium will be completely dismantled after the World Cup. The number 974 is the international dialing code for Qatar but also represents the number of containers used for the stadium's construction.
• Al-Wakrah, Al-Janoub Stadium (40,000).
Located south of Doha in the city of Al-Wakrah, the stadium's design was inspired by the traditional boats used for pearl diving and fishing.
© Agence France-Presse
