Qatar 2022: an immersive, innovative World Cup
The proximity of stadiums will allow fans to watch more than one game a day and teams will not have to travel, helping Qatar to be a CO2-free World Cup.
The schedule for the 2022 World Cup highlighted the short distances between host venues that will stage games at the tournament in Qatar, a factor that will serve to provide an extraordinary experience for fans during the competition’s 28 days.
The proximity of the neighbouring stadiums will allow fans to attend more than one game a day, an innovation that will be a unique facet of the first World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East. Furthermore, the whole tournament will be accessible via a single airport while visitors will have the option of spending their entire stay at one single accommodation rather than having to book multiple stops.
Neither will the teams taking part in the tournament and their coaching and auxiliary staff have to take domestic flights, an advancement that will not only provide a more economical experience but will also give players more time to focus on training and match-day preparations.
The set-up of the 2022 World Cup is also designed to limit carbon emissions in line with the Qatar government and FIFA’s vision of staging the first carbon-free World Cup in history.
Qatar 2022: a new experience for fans
There will be four games a day during the group stage, starting from 1pm local time and going through to 10pm. Given the proximity of the stadiums, fans will have the chance to experience the atmosphere wherever they are as they will never be far away from a ground, a FIFA event or a tourist destination, all of which will help make Qatar 2022 a festival of football unlike any seen before.
The opening game of the tournament will be staged at the 60,000-seater Al-Bayt Stadium on 21 November 2022, with the final to be held at the 80,000 capacity Lusail Stadium on 18 December, coinciding with Qatar National Day celebrations.