Three World Cup stadiums to be inaugurated this year

The Supreme Committee Delivery and Legacy will inaugurate three new World Cup stadiums before the end of this year, to join venues which have already been completed and unveiled such as the Al Kalifa International, Al Januob, Education City and Ahmed Bin Ali stadiums.

According to a statement issued by the Committee, the stadiums which are scheduled to be inaugurated in 2021 are: Al Thumama, Al Bayt and Ras Abu Aboud, which will leave just Lusail stadium, the venue which will host the 2022 World Cup final, as the only one to be finished.

We take a brief look at the three stadiums which will be ready to stage matches at some point later this year:

Al Bayt

This will be the first World Cup stadium to be inaugurated this year according to the SC’s plans. It will boast a seating capacity of 60,000, making it the second biggest venue for Qatar 2022 after Lusail stadium. It is located 46 km from Doha – the furthest distance of all of the World Cup venues from the Qatari capital.

The inaugural game of the 2022 World Cup will be played at Al Bayt. It has a unique design - inspired by the traditional Arabian gazebos, homes in which the Bedouin people lived in other times. Its design reflects both the glory and great hospitality of Arab people.

A retractable roof is one of its most eye-catching features and one which makes it instantly recognizable; another attraction is the 400,000 square metres of green spaces which surround the stadium.

Regarding the progress being made in its construction, assembly of the structure is already complete and the pitch was laid in record time, while in terms of sustainability, it has been given a five-star rating by the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS).

Al Thumama

This stadium will be able to seat 40,000 spectators and is located 12 Km outside of Doha. The inspiration behind its design was the Kaffiyeh - a traditional headdress worn by men throughout the Arabian Peninsula and Middle-East. It is also the first World Cup stadium to be designed by a Qatari architect, Ibrahim Al Gaida.

As for the latest updates, various sections of the building are now complete – the exterior façade, seating has been installed in the stands and the pitch is laid as well as the trees and greenery in the areas around the stadium.

Ras Abu Aboud

With the capacity to house 40,000 spectators, this 2022 Qatar venue is the closest to Doha at 7 Km distance. It is the world’s first stadium which can be disassembled and moved - for that reason, it is an iconic structure in the development of sustainable stadiums.

It was built using 974 steel shipping containers and detachable units, parts of which will be reused in other projects after the tournament.