The World Cup venues in Qatar will undoubtedly be unique, with a hat-shaped stadium, one built of shipping containers, and another in a tent-like construction.
The Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 draw will take place on Friday as the world’s smallest nation prepares to host the tournament in November and December.
Eight stadiums are separated by one hour’s journey and 43 miles. For the tournament, seven sites were built from the ground up, with the eighth being considerably rebuilt.
Six stadiums will see around half of their seats repurposed (and shipped to developing countries), while the seventh will be demolished.
After that, just one will be a football team’s home ground.
According to the organisers, the stadiums were all designed with environmental standards in mind, and all received four or five stars from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS). When they were first built, the stadiums and training grounds had a £4.7 billion budget.
Each of the eight stadiums will be powered by a solar panel farm and will have elaborate cooling systems, including outdoor air conditioning in some cases.
However, since Qatar was granted the World Cup in 2010, stadium construction has been one of the more contentious aspects of the country’s preparations. Amnesty International accuses Qatar of “labour abuse and exploitation of its more than two million migrant workers,” claiming that hundreds have died suddenly.
In addition, infrastructure construction and operational elements are expected to account for over a quarter of the tournament’s carbon emissions. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is expected to emit 3.6 million tonnes of CO2, higher than some countries’ annual emissions and up from the 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 created during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Here’s a look at what spectators may expect from the stadiums when the tournament begins on November 21.
Lusail Stadium (2022)
Capacity: 80,000
Location: Lusail, a planned city in Qatar
This is the centrepiece stadium for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which only opened this year (behind schedule).
This venue will host 10 world cup games, including the final.
Lusail will be the focal point of a new £33 billion city with the same name that might house 200,000 people.
Most seats will be removed after the World Cup since “Lusail will not require its football stadium after 2022.”
Under the stadium’s roof, it will become a community hub with schools, stores, health clinics, and sporting facilities. The remaining upper-tier seating will be incorporated into the new home outside terraces.
Al Bayt Stadium (2021)
Capacity: 60,000
Location: Al Khor, a municipality in the State of Qatar
The bayt al sha’ar tents used by nomadic tribes in the region inspired the design of this stadium, which is covered by a massive tent-like structure. The flexible top and tent will help keep the stadium cool.
This venue will host 8 world cup games, including the opening match.
After the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the upper tier of seats will be dismantled (reducing capacity to under 32,000) and given to underdeveloped countries. The stadium will be home to a five-star hotel and shopping centre.
Although it is the farthest stadium from Doha, it is only a 40-minute drive away.
Stadium 974 (2021)
Capacity: 40,000
Location: Doha, capital of Qatar
This is a spectacular stadium even by the standards of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It was constructed using 974 shipping containers and modular steel (thus the name), and Ras Abu Aboud Stadium was its previous name.
This venue will host 7 world cup games until the last 16.
It will be dismantled after the World Cup, utilising the parts in other projects. A waterfront development will be built on the property.
Khalifa International Stadium (1976)
Capacity: 45,416
Location: Doha, capital of Qatar
The Khalifa International Stadium, erected in 1976 and completely refurbished in 2017, is the only World Cup stadium that existed just a few years ago.
This venue will host 8 world cup games, including the 3rd place play-off.
In 2019, it hosted the World Athletics Championships and the Fifa Club World Cup final (which Liverpool won).
The Khalifa is the only World Cup stadium that will not be substantially or entirely demolished after the tournament.
Education City Stadium (2020)
Capacity: 40,000
Location: Al Rayyan, a municipality in the State of Qatar
The Education City Stadium is situated in a green space outside Doha, in the heart of multiple Qatari universities. It boasts an innovative cooling system renowned as the ‘Diamond in the Desert.’
This venue will host 8 world cup games up to the quarter-final.
As the sun moves across the sky, the diamond patterns on the facade appear to change colour.
They hosted the 2021 Fifa Club World Cup final, but the stadium’s capacity will be decreased after the World Cup.
Al Thumama Stadium (2021)
Capacity: 40,000
Location: Doha, capital of Qatar
Once the World Cup is complete, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced to 20,000, with a hotel and mosque set to open.
This venue will host 8 world cup games up to the quarter-final.
Its design is based on ghafiya, an Arabic cap named after a natural tree.
Al Janoub Stadium (2019)
Capacity: 40,000
Location: Al Wakrah, the capital city of the Al Wakrah Municipality in Qatar
In May of this year, the first new World Cup stadium was constructed. It will host the Asian Champions League final in 2020.
This venue will host 7 world cup games until the last 16.
The sails of dhow boats inspired the design. The stadium is equipped with a cooling system, allowing it to be used all year.
20,000 seats, like those in most other stadiums, will be removed afterwards.
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (2003)
Capacity: 40,000
Location: Al Rayyan, a municipality in the State of Qatar
This stadium was erected on the site of an existing stadium with the same name, with over 80% of the construction materials being reused or recycled, including some from the original stadium.
This venue will host 7 world cup games until the last 16.
Its gleaming exterior is “made up of designs that represent many facets of the country.”
After the competition, it will host Al Rayyan Sports Club, which has a capacity of 20,000 people.
