As host for the world cup in 2022, Qatar has spent considerable focus building new stadiums as well as refurbishing existing stadiums too. The world cup is a global showcase event and Qatar has taken all the steps necessary to make sure the 2022 World Cup is one of the most memorable.
How many stadiums does Qatar have in World Cup? There will be 8 stadiums used for the Qatar World Cup in 2022 including:
- Khalifa International Stadium
- Al Janoub Stadium
- Ras Abu Aboud Stadium
- Education City Stadium
- Lusail Stadium
- Al Rayyan Stadium
- Al Thumama Stadium
- Al Bayt Stadium
Let’s take a deeper look at these stadiums in the rest of the article.
1. Khalifa International Stadium
The Khalifa International stadium was built in Doha, the capital of Qatar in 1976 and is named after Khalifa Bin Ahmad al Thani, Qatar’s former Emir.
As this stadium was already in existence, it was comfortable for the stadium to assume the title of being the first stadium to be ready for the World Cup tournament when it was officially reopened in 2017. As it only required refurbishment and didn’t require construction from the ground up.
With a 48,000 seat capacity, that was updated from the original 20,000 seat capacity, the stadium now has the increased capacity to deal with hosting world cup matches.
World Cup matches
The Khalifa International stadium will host world cup matches up to the Quarter final stages, as its capacity is far less than other stadiums, like the Lusail Stadium.
Location
The stadium is located in the Aspire Zone also known as Doha Sports City around 8 kms (5 miles) from the central business district of Doha in the Al-Waab district.
Design
Arup & Associates, an international engineering firm based in London were tasked with the structural design and development of the stadium refurbishment. They converted the stadium with a signature lighting arch and spectacular yet delicate roof, with the new dual arches designed to represent continuity, and the new roof canopy design providing cooling for the stadium.
The seating areas are climate controlled by advanced cooling technology and have protection from the elements by an overhead canopy.
Legacy
The legacy for the stadium is part of the Aspire Zone vision to provide sporting facilities for the wider community, including the Hamad Aquatic Centre (Olympic-size swimming pool), the Aspire Dome (one of the worlds largest indoor sports halls, with 13 playing fields)[1] and the Aspire Academy (youth sports academy).
2. Al Janoub Stadium
Al Janoub was another newly built stadium with a capacity of 40,000 seat stadium and becoming a permanent fixture in Al Wakrah.
World Cup matches
The Al Janoub stadium will host world cup matches up to the Quarter final stages.
Location
The stadium is located in Al Wakrah, a city in the southern part of Qatar. The surrounding area is one of the oldest communities in Qatar and was for centuries a centre of fishing and pearl diving.
Design
Designed by AECOM in conjunction with Zaha Hadid Architects whose design of flowing curves and graceful curves, symbolises the traditional dhow boats floating through the Gulf.
The design helps keep the stadium cool in an environmentally friendly way through it’s aerodynamic styling, with shade provided by the roof, alleviating the energy required for additional cooling systems.
The stadium is rated as Class A* for sustainability by the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), received in 2018.
Legacy
The seating will be removed post world cup, with the capacity reduced from 40,000 to 20,000 seats. These 20,000 seats will be given to other countries in need of footballing infrastructure. The clever modular design of stadium makes it easy to remove the 20,000 seats in no time at all.
The stadium has acted as a catalyst for other infrastructure being developed in the area including cycling and running facilities and new multi-purpose indoor arena.
3 Ras Abu Aboud Stadium
The Ras Abu Aboud stadium is a 40,000 seat stadium with clever design goals, allowing quicker construction than the other stadiums being build for the world cup.
World Cup matches
The Ras Abu Aboud stadium will host world cup matches up to the Quarter final stages.
Location
Located across from the Doha’s West Bay skyline along the Gulf shoreline and is around 1.5 km (1 mile) from Qatar’s primary international airport, Doha’s Hamed International Airport. A new stop on Qatar Rails Gold Line will make the stadium easily accessible with a potential water taxi stop added too.
Design
The design for the stadium was by Fenwick Iribarren Architects and focussed on making the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium easy to build and then dismantle after the world cup.
With this in mind the design was constructed from a series of modified shipping containers sitting within a steel framework, allowing the stadium to be quickly assembled, disassembled and then reassembled in a new location following the conclusion of the event.
The modular design uses prefabricated building blocks in its construction equating to less materials used, thereby minimising on waste and
The stadiums design goal was to achieve 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) certification.
Due to the stadiums modular design, fewer building materials will be used in its construction. With its modular design along with using prefabricated components, ensures minimal amounts of waste created on the stadium’s building site.
The location of the stadium along the Gulf shoreline provides natural cooling breezes to keep p the stadium’s advanced cooling systems costs down.
Legacy
As the stadium is constructed in a modular fashion using building blocks from shipping containers along with removable seats. The whole stadium can be easily dismantled as planned post the world cup, with the stadium components being used in other projects.
The waterfront where the stadium is located will be transformed after the stadium is removed as part of a new waterfront development.
4. Education City Stadium
The Education City stadium is a purpose built 40,000 seat stadium with a diamond inspired design.
World Cup matches
The Education City stadium will host world cup matches up to the quarter final stages.
Location
The stadium is located on the outskirts of Doha, around 7 km (4 miles) from the city centre in the university district. Where Qatar’s leading universities are located including a British, a French and six America universities.
The Doha Metro links to Education City to the rest of the city, with local trams providing further connections to the stadium itself.
Design
Designed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects and Pattern, the design incorporates diamond like shapes, to denote the characteristics of diamonds, that is quality, durability and resilience.
Having achieved a 5-star GSAS rating, due to the stadium being constructed from materials derived from sustainable sources (55%) with 28% of construction materials being recyclable.
The landscaping has been done to use least 75% special drought resistant plants, thereby reducing the environment demands for water.
Legacy
After the world cup tournament concludes, the seating capacity will be reduced by removing 20,000 and donating these to developing countries, bringing the capacity of the stadium down to 20,000 seats.
5. Lusail Stadium
The Lusail Stadium, located just outside the capital Doha in Lusail City, will host the opening ceremony, the opening match and the World Cup final. With an 80,000 seat capacity, the Lusail Stadium will be the largest of Qatar’s world cup venues.
World Cup matches
The Lusail stadium will host world cup final match as well as hosting the opening ceremony and opening games.
Location
The stadium is located on the outskirts of Doha, about 15 km (9 miles) north of Doha.
Design
The design of this magnificent stadium is inspired by the interplay of sunshine and shadow that characterises the fanar lantern. Its shape and façade echo the intricate decorative motifs on bowls, vessels and other art pieces found across the Arab and Islamic world during the increase of civilisation within the region.
Legacy
The venue will become part of the centrepiece of Lusail City, a new state-of-the-art metropolis.
During the conversion after the world cup concludes, most of the stadium’s 80,000 seats are going to be removed and donated to sporting projects. With the whole stadium turned into a space for the community with shops, cafes, schools, health centres, all under the roof of the repurposed football stadium.
6. Al Rayyan Stadium
The Al Rayyan Stadium has been built on the location of the old Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, the previous home of Qatar’s Al Rayyan Sports Club and has a capacity of 40,000 seats.
World Cup matches
The Al Rayyan stadium will host world cup matches up to the quarter final stages.
Location
The Al Rayyan stadium is located on the outskirts of Doha in the city of Al-Rayyan.
Design
The Al Rayyan Stadium will incorporate symbols of Qatari culture into its spectacular façade. The facilities surrounding the venue also will mirror the country, with sand dune-shaped structures recalling the beautifully wild lands to the west.
The venues construction used environmentally friendly building materials and practices. Some of the materials used in the construction are from the old Ahmed Bin ali Stadium, with the rest of the old stadium’s remnants being recycled where possible (as much as 80%).
The stadium uses innovative cooling technologies to ensure spectators are provided with a comfortable environment to watch football matches.
Legacy
After completion of the world cup tournament, the seating capacity will be reduced to downsize the stadium to a 20,000 seater capacity. Through the removal of the upper tier of seats and these will be donated to developing nations.
7. Al Thumama Stadium
The Al Thumama Stadium is a 40,000 seat stadium with a design based on traditional cap worn by Arab men.
World Cup matches
The Al Thumama stadium will host world cup matches up to the quarter final stages.
Location
The Al Thumama stadium is located on the outskirts of Doha about 12 km (7 miles) south.
Design
The stadium is an architectural depiction of the gahfiya, a standard cap worn by Arab men. The venue’s unique design won the Architectural Review Future Projects Award in 2019. The gahfiya forms a fundamental layer of the normal clothing of the region. It is also a logo of dignity and independence, an ideal analogy for Qatar and therefore the surrounding region.
Al Thumama Stadium has a Global Sustainability Assessment System Trust (GSAS) 4-star certification for both design and construction.
Legacy
The stadium will be downsized by removing 20,000 seats, with the reduced sized stadium will remaining in use, hosting football and other sporting events. A FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence known as Aspetar will operate a clinic on the site of the stadium, treating local residents and professional athletes alike.
Around the stadium area, the surrounding precinct will become a community hub with facilities for multiple sports, including handball, volleyball, basketball and swimming. The inclusion of running and cycling tracks will weave their way around the precinct.
As well as the multiple sporting options available to all the community, there will also be a number of retail and commercial units created to ensure the area becomes a bustling hub of exercise and activity and a boutique hotel inside the stadium.
8. Al Bayt Stadium
The Al Bayt Stadium, is located in Al Khor city, a northern city in Qatar, with a capacity of 60,000 and a retractable roof.
World Cup matches
The Al Bayt stadium will host world cup matches up to the semi final stages.
Location
Al Khor City is 35 km (21 miles) from Doha City and is famous for its pearl diving and fishing.
Design
The stadium exterior is designed to resemble the tents used in Qatar’s deserts, with this giant tent structure covering the whole stadium
The construction of the stadium is along environmentally friendly development to minimise impact on the environment.
Legacy
After the tournament, the upper tier of modular design seating is going to be removed and given to developing nations.
In conclusion
Qatar has made excellent progress to get the stadiums ready in time for the 2022 World Cup and with the dates rearranged for the cooler winter weather, the tournament will live to the expectations of Qatar and it’s people.
References:
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspire_Zone#cite_note-5
