The eight houses of the greatest show on earth

THE 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be played across eight venues within the range of the capital Doha. Despite concerns regarding the readiness of the stadiums since construction began in 2015 and the treatment of its migrant workers, all the venues are ready to welcome the world to the first Middle Eastern World Cup. Seven years of work and billions of dollars spent have produced venues that will house some of the most anticipated games of the tournament.

Lusail Iconic Stadium

Capacity: 80,000

The largest stadium among the venues, Lusail Iconic Stadium will host 10 matches, including the World Cup final on December 18. Located 23 kilometres north of the capital, Doha, the venue was inaugurated on September 9 with the hosting of the Saudi-Egyptian Cup, a game between the Saudi Arabian and Egyptian league champions which served as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup. Among the matches will be a Group C clash with Argentina and Mexico, their fourth meeting in World Cup history dating back to 1930.

Notable Games

November 26 Group C: Argentina vs Mexico

November 28 Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay

December 18: World Cup Final

Al Bayt Stadium

Capacity: 60,000

The stadium, which has a retractable roof, opened in November 2021 and has been certified for its sustainability, including certifications in sustainable design and build and construction management practices. It hosted last year’s FIFA Arab World Cup. The tournament will begin here as the host nation Qatar takes on Ecuador in the opening game. It will also host two eagerly anticipated clashes as England take on the United States on November 25 as well as the meeting of former world champions Spain and Germany on November 27.

Notable Games

November 20 Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador

November 25 Group B: England vs United States

November 27 Group E: Spain vs Germany

Stadium 974

Capacity: 40,000

Formerly known as Ras Abu Aboud Stadium. Stadium 974 was named after the 974 recycled shipping containers that were used in its construction. It is the first temporary venue in the history of the World Cup. The seats and containers used will be broken down after the tournament and provided to underdeveloped countries. The venue will host seven matches, which include group stage rematches in Portugal vs Ghana on November 24 and Brazil vs Switzerland on November 28.

Notable Games

November 24 Group H: Portugal vs Ghana

November 26 Group D: France vs Denmark

November 28 Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland

Al Thumama Stadium

Capacity: 40,000

Al Thumama Stadium was one of the venues completed last year in time for the FIFA Arab World Cup. The design took inspiration from the traditional taqiyah hat, a traditional hat that is worn by men and boys across the Middle East. It will host eight matches including Senegal vs Netherlands on November 21 as well as Iran vs the United States on November 29, their first meeting in 22 years.

Notable games

November 21 Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands

November 29: Group B: Iran vs the United States

December 1: Group F: Canada vs Morocco

Khalifa International Stadium

Capacity: 45,416

First opened in 1976, the stadium serves as the home of the Qatar National football team and has also hosted several World Athletics Diamond League meetings as well as the 2019 World Athletic Championships. The stadium was renovated in 2005, increasing the capacity to 40,000 seats. The venue will host eight matches including the third-place playoff.

Notable Matches

November 21 Group B: England vs Iran

November 27:Group F: Croatia vs Canada

Education City Stadium

Capacity:45,350

Nicknamed “The Diamond in the Desert”, Education City Stadium is located on the outskirts of Doha and is among the world’s most environmentally friendly stadiums with 20% of its building materials designated green. Officially opened in June 2020, the venue will host eight matches including a quarterfinal game.

Notable matches

November 22 Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia

November 28 Group H: South Korea vs Ghana

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

Capacity: 44,740

The new Ahmad bin Ali Stadium was built using the rubble from the old venue, which was demolished in 2015. Construction started in 2016 and finished in 2018. The construction includes a membrane that will act as a screen for projections, sports updates, current tournament information and matches. It was among the four stadiums used for last year’s FIFA Arab World Cup. The venue will host seven matches which will include clashes between England and Wales, and Belgium and Croatia.

Notable Matches

November 21 Group B: United States vs Wales

November 23 Group F: Belgium vs Canada

November 29 Group B: Wales vs England

December 1 Group F: Croatia vs Belgium

Al-Janoub Stadium

Capacity: 40,000

The smallest stadium in terms of capacity, Al-Janoub Stadium was inspired by the sails of the traditional Dhow boats used by pearl divers around the region. It is set to be the official home of Al-Wakrah SC of the Qatari Stars League with its capacity reduced to 20,000 after the tournament. A cooling system was placed in the stadium to prevent users from overheating. The venue is capable of cooling the spectator areas to 18 degrees celsius and the playing surface to 20 degrees. The venue will host seven matches during the tournament, including Ghana vs Uruguay, a rematch of the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal.

Notable Matches

November 24 Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon

December 2 Group H: Ghana vs Uruguay