The FIFA World Cup is easily the most relevant and exciting football competition in the world. For many, it is the only football competition they’ll watch (that’s us). One of the main features of any World Cup is the stadiums that will host the matches. In this article I’m going to take you to all 8 stadiums that will host matches in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Check out the video below if you are someone who prefers to watch videos. I visit each stadium and share information about each Qatar 2022 stadium.
We’ve been living in Qatar for almost 2 years now and the country is going through a huge transformation in preparation for the 2022 World Cup. It’s quite incredible what the country has achieved.
As Qatar is quite a small country so it has been able to build an advanced transport system. This will make the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup the best-connected international football competition ever. Qatar will host a total of 32 teams and a 65 matches during the tournament.
Alright. Let’s check out the first stadium.
Khalifa International Stadium is the home of football in Qatar and is located in Doha. This is Qatar’s most iconic stadium and it has been welcoming fans since 1976. It is easily recognised with its prominent dual arches.
The stadium has gone through a transformation in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022 with the addition of a wide canopy and the facade has had a facelift giving it a modern look. The stadium also boasts a new tier which has added 12,000 seats, bringing the total capacity to 40,000 seats.
Khalifa International Stadium will be at the centre of all the 2022 venues and will host a total of eight matches. This includes six group matches, one round of 16 and a match for third place.
The beautifully developed Aspire Zone which includes the Torch Hotel, the Hamad Aquatic Center, the futuristic Aspire Dome, Aspire Park, Villagio Mall and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum which is set to open later this year.
In the southern city of Al Wakra is the futuristic Al Janoub Stadium. Al Wakra is a historical centre of pearl diving and fishing. So the design of Al Janoub Stadium was inspired on the dhow boats that were used for these activities.
This extraordinary Stadium opened on the 16th of May 2019 by hosting the Amir Cup final. During the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022, Al Janoub Stadium will host six group matches and one round of 16.
During the tournament Al Janoub Stadium will seat 40,000 visitors. However, after the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the capacity will be reduced to 20,000 seats but will remain as a sporting and entertainment hub. The other 20 000 seats will be donated to football development projects overseas.
Many beaches along the Al Wakrah coastline where you’ll also find many playgrounds for children, Ezdan Mall, Al Wakra Fort, Al Wakra Public Garden and Souq Al Wakra where you’ll find a museum, Abu Manatarein Mosque and the pearl monument.
The ultra modern Education City Stadium was completed in June 2020 and built in an area known for its bustling activity in academics, cutting edge research and innovation.
Located only seven kilometres away from Doha, visitors will come here to find state of the art facilities surrounding the venue. These include many open green spaces, football training pitches, a golf course and shops. Visitors will be able to arrive here by bike riding, train and tram.
The design of this stadium is outstanding with a capacity of 40,000 seats and has sustainability at heart. Its exterior features triangles that form complex, diamond like patterns which appear to change colour as the day goes by. It is equally dazzling at nighttime, as the facade of the stadium puts on a colourful light show.
As for the FIFA World Cup 2022, the Education City Stadium will be hosting a total of eight matches which includes five group matches, one round of 16 and one quarter final. The capacity will be reduced by 20,000 after the World Cup and the remaining seats will be donated to build stadiums in developing countries.
Oxygen Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Al Shaqab Equestrian Center, Qatar National Library, Education City Mosque, Ceremonial Court and the Education City golf club.
Al Rayyan is considered one of Qatar’s most traditional cities and is home to the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The stadium opened on the 18 December 2020, has a capacity of 40,000 seats and will be hosting six matches for the FIFA World Cup.
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium has a prominent glowing facade which is particularly striking in the evening. It also brings a reminder of the Qatari landscape with sand dune shaped facilities around the stadium.
One of the most outstanding things about this stadium is its focus in sustainability. Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium was built on the site of a venue that shared its name, the previous home of popular local team Al Rayyan SC. Amazingly, 80% of the materials from the previous stadium where recycled and reused to build the new stadium.
The Mall of Qatar is within footsteps. There is not much else to see in the area, however Education City is just 10km away.
Located 35 kilometres away from Doha in the northern city of Al Khor stands the impressive Al Bayt Stadium. The stadium takes its name from the word bayt al sha’ar. Historically, these are the tents that the nomadic people in the region used. So appropriately, it has been designed as a giant tent structure covering an ultra modern stadium in tribute to the country’s heritage.
Al bayt stadium is the second largest stadium with a capacity of 60 000 seats and is where the first match of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 will kick off. In total the stadium will host nine matches. These include six group matches, one round of 16, one quarter final and a semi final match.
At the end of the event, the upper tier of seats which is almost half of its capacity will be removed and donated to developing nations around the world.
Al Thakira, Al Khor Zoo, Al Tawasul Traditional Park, Farkeh Beach, The Al Khor Corniche, Al Qarma Beach Garden, Baladna Farm and Purple Island. Also be sure to spend some time enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Al Bayt Park with its lagoon, floating palm trees, and walking/cycling paths.
Ras Abu Aboud Stadium has to be the most unique stadium being constructed from colourful shipping containers, removable seats and modular building blocks. The stadium is still under construction but is due to be completed by the projected date of May 2021.
The most remarkable thing about this stadium is its level of sustainability. After the tournament it will be completely dismantled and repurposed. So if you do manage to see one of the matches from Ras Abu Aboud Stadium during the World Cup, you will be seeing perhaps the last and only events to be held at the stadium.
Ras Abu Aboud Stadium is located just 10km from Hamad International Airport and just 2 km from the Corniche. With a capacity of 40,000 seats the venue will host six group matches and one round of 16.
Qatar National Museum, The Museum of Islamic Art, MIA Park, Souq Waqif, the Corniche and the dhow harbour.
Located just 12 kilometres south of Doha is the symbolic Al Thumama Stadium. This breathtaking stadium’s design represents the gahfiya, a traditional woven cap that has been worn by men and boys across the Middle East for centuries. This magnificent building truly blends Arab heritage with modern design.
Al Thumama Stadium is scheduled to open in May of 2021 and looks forward to welcoming 40,000 visitors during each match of the FIFA World Cup. It will host a total of eight matches. This includes six group matches, one round of 16 and one quarter final.
After the World Cup, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced to 20,000 seats and will continue to be used for football and other sporting events. The remaining seats will be donated to provide quality sporting infrastructure to developing nations. Al Thumama Stadium has an exciting future as it will see the addition of a world renowned sports clinic on site and a boutique hotel to replace the stadium’s upper stands.
Al Thumama is nestled on the outskirts of both the Doha and Al Wakrah municipalities.
It is fitting that we save Lusail Stadium for the eighth and last stadium as it will be hosting the final match of the World Cup. In our opinion this will be the most superb stadium yet. This golden venue is inspired by the interplay of light and shadow seen in a Fanar (Arab lantern) combined with an intricately designed bowl or vessel. Essentially a celebration of Arab culture and craftsmanship that has taken place for centuries in the region. Lusail Stadium will make the perfect centrepiece to the newly built city of Lusail.
Lusail stadium is due to open in December 2021 and it will have a massive capacity of 80,000 seats. Being the largest venue, it will be hosting the opening ceremony as well as the most number of matches. That includes six group matches, one round of 16, one quarter final, one semi final and of course, the final match.
Once the FIFA World Cup 2022 is over, Lusail Stadium will be transformed into a multipurpose community hub. It will include schools, shops, cafés, sporting facilities and health clinics. As with many of the other stadiums, the seats will be donated to various football projects around the world.
Lusail Marina Promenade, Lusail Marina Food Arena, Crescent Park, take in Lusail interesting buildings including the prominent Katara Towers which will become Qatar’s first six star hotel once opened.
That’s all 8 stadiums that will host matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We want to know which stadiums have impressed you the most and also if you’re coming to Qatar to experience the FIFA World Cup in 2022?
Tell us in the comments.
Interested to hear about our first impressions of Qatar? Then check out this article.
One Response
Amazing blog!