We just can't wait to get a grip on the action of the Qatar 2020 FIFA World Cup. Just the cream of the crop will attend the ultimate global sporting event, so, obviously, every stadium and venue has to live up to certain standards.
That's why the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and FIFA put together a list of 8 top-tier stadiums for the event, including the legendary Al-Khalifa International, which was refurbished and renewed three years ago to host the event.
The other seven stadiums were specifically designed for this upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, meaning they won't be short of luxury and top-notch technological breakthroughs to perfectly suit the needs of players, staff, and fans in attendance of the biggest soccer stage in the world. In the following paragraphs, we'll let you know everything about them.
Al-Khalifa International
The Al-Khalifa International has hosted plenty of international events lately, including the 2019 World Club Cup Final between Liverpool and Flamengo. It reopened in 2017 and can host up to 40,000 people. According to FIFA, it'll host matches through the quarter-finals, which is a shame considering how beautiful it is.
Education City
Also located in Doha, Education City Stadium will provide a top-notch viewer experience for the 45,000 fans that'll be in attendance. Like the Al-Khalifa International, it'll host World Cup matches until the quarter-finals. The committee will later donate 20,000 seats from the stadium for developing countries.
Al-Bayt
Al-Bayt Stadium is a treat to the eyes. Completely inspired by Arabian architecture, this "House of Poetry" tent-shaped beauty will host up to 60,000 fans once it opens its doors. It has a retractable roof (which will be dismantled and donated to developing countries after the World Cup) and will host games until the semi-finals.
Al-Janoub
Located in Al-Wakrah, the Al-Janoub Stadium already opened its doors in 2019. It can host as much as 40,000 fans and was designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. It was inspired in the coastal lifestyle of the city, featuring sea-like designs both outside and inside the stadium. Its capacity will be reduced to 20,000 after the World Cup.
Lusail Iconic
Arabian architecture is all about size and elegance and the Lusail Iconic Stadium is a perfect example of both. This beauty will boast a capacity of 80,000 fans and will host both the inaugural match and the final, among others. The design is allegedly inspired in the duality between lights and shadows and it'll be encircled by a reflective pool of water.
Al-Rayyan
The Al-Rayyan Stadium will be completely renovated for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It will take place where the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium used to be and will take its capacity all the way to 40,000 fans. Once again, it'll feature an Arabic design, this time inspired by the dunes, and it'll be the home for both Al-Rayyan SC and Al-Kharitiyath SC once the World Cup is over.
Al-Thumama
The project for the Al-Thumama Stadium broke ground in 2017 and is expected to be finished at some point in 2020. It'll boast a 40,000 seat capacity and will feature a unique Arabic designed inspired by the taqiyah hat. It'll also include a clinic of the Aspetar Hospital for sports medicine and orthopedics to help players dealing with injuries throughout the World Cup.
Ras Abu Abboud
The Ras Abu Abboud Stadium will be built out of cargo ship containers and will be the first fully dismantlable stadium on earth. It's expected to host 40,000 fans, and it was designed to shape like the traditional Gahfiya. Like the Al-Thumama, it'll also include a clinic of the Aspetar Hospital for sports medicine and orthopedics for players coping with injuries. It'll be dismantled after the World Cup and its parts will be used for other projects.
