World Cup Qatar 2022: The 8 stadiums where the matches will take place
29 teams are classified for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and only 3 places are yet to be defined with the playoff matches pending for June.
The maximum football competition will take place from November 21 to December 18, in order to avoid the hot summer in that desert area.
However, seven months before the start of the long-awaited World Cup, it is necessary to know the 8 stadiums where the matches will take place, which have been practically finished for a year. It should be noted that most are located near the city of Doha, the capital of Qatar.
lusail stadium
It is the greatest of all. It is located 15 kilometers from Doha in the city of Lusail and has a capacity of 86,250 spectators, making it one of the largest in the world.
It was built for this World Cup and is practically the most important in the country. Six matches of the group stage will be played at the Lusail stadium, one for the round of 16, another for the quarterfinals and one more for the semifinals. Because of its size, it is chosen to host the final of the tournament on December 18 of this year.
It should be noted that the stadium is decorated with the theme of the Arab world, that is, with pots, basins and pieces of art from the area. Moreover, the city became famous for a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2021.
Al Bayt Stadium
This headquarters is located in the city of Jor. It is the second largest stadium in the country with a capacity of 60,000 people and it should be noted that it is responsible for hosting the opening ceremony and the opening match.
Al Bayt was inaugurated in February of last year and, in addition, six games of the group stage, one of the round of 16, another of the quarterfinals and a semifinal will be played there. It should be noted that its name and design have to do with the nomadic traditions of the Gulf.
Al Yanub Stadium
It was opened in the year 2019 and is located in the city of Al Wakrah, which is one of the oldest cities in the country. With a capacity of 40,000 people, it will be used for six group stage matches, as well as one of the round of 16 matches.
It should be noted that it is one of the few stadiums in the country that has a retractable roof and a cooling system that can cool the temperature in the stands to 18°.
Its design was in charge of the well-known architect Zaha Hadid, who gave it an exterior shape of a dhow, which is a sailing ship of Arab origin that was used to obtain pearls and also to fish.
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
It is located in the city of Rayán and has a capacity for 44,000 spectators.
It is one of the few stadiums that was already built before Qatar was chosen to host the World Cup in 2022 and that was when it was remodeled, in 2020, making it suitable for the occasion and replacing the oldest one that worked between 2003 and 2015.
Six games of the group stage and one of the round of 16 will be played at this stadium. It should be noted that it is the headquarters of the Al-Rayyan Sports Club, one of the best known and the second most successful in the country.
Al Zumama Stadium
It is located 12 kilometers from Doha and was inaugurated in October last year. It also has a capacity for 40,000 spectators. This venue will host six group stage matches, one round of 16 and one quarter-final.
The design of the stadium on the outside resembles a gahfiya which is a kind of cap worn by many Arab countries by men and boys.
Education City Stadium
It is located in the university area of Qatar and has a capacity for 43,350 spectators.
It was inaugurated in June 2020 and hosted the final of the Club World Cup last year. It will host six matches of the group stage, one of the round of 16 and one of the quarterfinals.
It was one of the most striking stadiums in its construction due to its link with the Qatar Foundation, notable for being a sponsor of FC Barcelona for many years.
Khalifa International Stadium
It is located in the city of Doha and already existed before Qatar was chosen as the venue for the World Cup, that is, since 1976. It has a capacity of 50,000 people and will host six group stage games, one round of 16 and the match for third place.
The matches of the Qatar national team were held there, as well as the final of the 2019 Club World Cup. The 2006 Asian Games, the 2011 Asian Cup and the 2011 World Athletics Championships were also held at this venue. 2019.
In turn, the stadium is part of a complex that includes a covered auditorium, the Qatar Olympic aquatic center, The Torch Doha hotel, the Villaggio Mall and a park.
Ras Abu Abud Stadium
It is also known as "974 Stadium" or "Port Stadium", since 974 containers were used in its design, since the architect in charge of its construction assured that its design is a tribute to the maritime tradition of Qatar.
It is located in Doha, specifically on the coast, near the center and the airport, it is a completely removable stadium and has a capacity for 40,000 spectators and will host six matches in the group stage and one in the round of 16.