Al Thumama looking impressive 25 months out from Qatar 2022

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body responsible for organising Qatar 2022, has published photos that show work is progressing well on Al Thumama Stadium, an arena whose design is inspired by the gahfiya, a traditional headdress worn by men throughout the Arab world.

Posted on the Supreme Committee’s Twitter account, the images offer a dazzling view of the World Cup venue, and show how easily fans will be able to access the stadium. There are also pictures of the training pitches very close to the arena - 32 in total, built for the teams participating in the tournament.

Gahfiya a symbol of dignity and self-esteem

Al Thumama Stadium is located 12 kilometres south of the centre of Doha. The gahfiya is an essential part of traditional Arab dress, and is a symbol of dignity and self-esteem for Qataris and people across the region.

The stadium celebrates a garment with a long history that is also an important part of the future of Qatar, as children wear the gahfiya from an early age at religious, national and cultural events. Although its names and designs vary, it is seen as a unifying feature of the Arab world.

Al Thumama Stadium legacy

As part of Al Thumama Stadium’s significant post-tournament legacy, the venue’s capacity is to be reduced and 20,000 of its seats will be donated to sports projects elsewhere in the world.