Qatar 2022, a guide to the stadiums of the next World Cup

The following World Cup, which will be held in Qatar in 2022, will make use of a total of eight different stadiums. Because this is the first time that the entire competition will take place during the winter, the primary European championships will be put on hold. Once the full picture of the 32 national teams that will participate in the most important national competition has been defined, as well as the eight groups, let’s instead find out which stadiums will host the 64 matches of the tournament, which will begin with the inaugural match on November 21, 2022, and end with the final on December 18, 2022. 

These venues are more than just football arenas; they are true gems. As was stated earlier, the Qatar 2022 World Cup will take place in a total of eight different stadiums across the country. Six of them were built from scratch; one of them already existed but had an addition made to it; and one of them already existed but had not been altered in any way. There are a total of eight stadiums, and they are spread out across the following five cities: Lusail, Al Khor, Al Wakrah, Doha, and Ar Rayyan.

The stadium that will play host to the championship match, the Lusail Iconic Stadium, is likely the most stunning of all the venues that have been constructed for this competition. The eight stadiums, along with some of their primary attributes and the matches that will be played there, are listed below.

Iconic Stadium of Lusail

It was constructed specifically for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It has now become the largest stadium in the whole of Qatar and is located in Lusail. It has a total capacity of 86,250 people, and it has been selected to host 10 different games, which is a record for a world cup. In addition to the final, this venue will play host to six matches from earlier rounds; one from the round of 16, one from the quarterfinals, and one of the two semi-finals.

Stadium Al Janoub

It was opened in 2019 in Al Wakrah and has 40,000 seats, but after the World Cup, when it will be used as a home stadium for Al Wakrah matches, the number of seats will be increased to 20,000 more. In addition, there is a shopping center and a spa located inside, as well as facilities for various types of parasports in a park that features a themed swimming pool. It was selected to host a total of seven matches, including six of the group stage contests and one of the round of 16 matches. 

Education City Stadium

It has been open since 2020, can be found in Doha, and can accommodate 45,350 people. It is better known as “The Diamond of the Desert,” and it is among the most advanced stadiums in terms of environmental sustainability. Twenty percent of the materials that make up the stadium are classified as “green.” Within the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), it was awarded five stars in the month of May 2019. It will serve as the venue for seven matches: six of the group stage contests and one of the round of 16.  

Ahmed bin Ali Stadium

It is one of only two stadiums that were not constructed specifically for the competition, and it can be found in Ar Rayyan. It is, in fact, the one that has been expanded specifically for Qatar 2022. The renovations, which took place between 2016 and 2018, cost a total of $200 million and increased the seating capacity from the original 21,282 seats to the current 44,000 seats. During the course of the renovation, it was additionally covered in a unique membrane that will function as a giant screen and display updates and information regarding the game that is currently being played. It will serve as the venue for seven matches: six of the group stage contests and one of the round of 16.

Khalifa International Stadium

It was opened in 1976 and is also known as the National Stadium; it can be found in Doha, and it is the only stadium in Qatar that has not undergone any renovations in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. As a result of renovations completed in 2005 in preparation for the Asian Games in 2006, it now has 48,000 seats. In the past, it had a maximum seating capacity of approximately 20,000 people. It had been planned that it would be renovated to have a capacity of up to 68,030 people, but due to a change in the scope of the project, it was destined to have a capacity of only 48,000 people. It will serve as the venue for nine different matches, including six of the group stage contests, one of the round of 16 matches, one of the quarterfinal matches, and the final game for third and fourth place.

Al-Bayt Stadium

It is located in Al Khor and has already hosted the first match of the Arab Cup that was played the year before. It has been determined that the opening match will take place in this stadium, which is the second largest in Qatar and has a capacity of 60,000 seats. It will also be the second with the most matches played, with a total of nine: six of the group matches, one of the rounds of 16, one of the quarterfinals, and one of the semi-finals. 

Ras Abu Aboud Stadium

It first opened in Doha in 2021 and currently has 44,950 seats available. It is the first time in the history of the World Cup that a temporary stadium has been constructed, and it is made up of 974 containers (precisely for this, it is nicknamed Stadium 974). Following the conclusion of the competition, it will be taken apart in its entirety. In addition to the containers, it is constructed out of seats that can be removed and blocks that are modular; as a result, it can be disassembled and reassembled in a different location. It will serve as the venue for seven matches: six of the group stage contests and one of the round of 16 contests.

Al Thumama Stadium

It was opened in 2021 and can be found in Doha. There are 40,000 seats available. The taqiyah, a traditional cap worn by men and boys in Middle Eastern countries, served as an inspiration for the design of this item’s shape. It will serve as the venue for eight different matches, including six of the group stage contests, one of the round of 16 contests, and one of the quarterfinals.