One of the most exciting aspects of every World Championship are the venues. For this edition, eight purpose built stadiums were created, of varied sizes, and of extraordinary architectural features.
Al Bayt Stadium
Location: Al Khor City
Distance from Doha: 35 km North
Capacity: 60,000
Key fixtures:
Opening Ceremony and game: Qatar v Ecuador
6 Group Stage matches
1 Round of 16 encounter
1 Quarter Final
1 Semi Final
The design of this stadium is true Qatari. Its white roof is a tribute to the bayt al sha’ar belonging to the nation’s nomadic population. A bayt al sha’ar is a tent used by nomads in the desert, so the stadium is built to look like a tent structure. The upper section of the stadium is also designed to be removed after the tournament ends, with seats being reallocated too.
The inside of the venue is characterized by sadu patterns inside it, giving that Qatari touch wherever you are in the stadium. Sadu patterns are derived from Bedouin weavers, so this shape is being represented within the architecture of this stadium.
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
Location: 20 km West
Distance from Doha: Umm al Afaei
Capacity: 40,000
Key fixtures:
4 Group Stage matches
Local culture and tradition are once again the focus of design when it comes to the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The gorgeous geometric patterns hint at the wonders of the desert, native floura and fauna, and trade. The rounded rectangular shape is beautiful and round pods on the outside give it a modern, but historical touch.
Al Janoub Stadium
Location: Al Wakrah
Distance from Doha: 22 km East
Capacity: 40,000
Key fixtures:
6 Group stage matches
This stadium is perhaps one of the most iconic stadiums at the World Championship. Frankly, the world has never seen anything like it. The traditional dhow boats, which are small fishing vessels found in East Africa and the Gulf waters are represented here. The white casing around the stadium, and indeed the ceiling, reflect winds passing through a moving sail.
Khalifa International Stadium
Location: Aspire
Distance from Doha: 5 km West
Capacity: 40,000
Key fixtures:
6 Group Stage matches
1 Round of 16 fixture
Third place play-off
This stadium was built in 1976 and was refitted for this World Championship. The refit can be seen as the arches from the 1970s phase of construction are still there, but feature a canopy, which is a part of the stadium’s cooling system.
Education City Stadium
Location: Al Rayyan
Distance from Doha: 13 km North West
Capacity: 40,000
Key fixtures:
6 Group Stage matches
1 Round of 16 fixture
1 Quarter Final
Another stadium with gorgeous geometric patterns, the Education City Stadium might be one of the smallest venues in Qatar, but it is also one of the most stunning. The name gives us a hint of this stadium’s location, right in the hub of Qatar’s educational district.
Those diamond patterns you see are a nod to traditional Islamic architecture and this stadium does well to blend the past, with the present and the future.
Lusail Stadium
Location: Lusail City
Distance from Doha: 20k m North
Capacity: 80,000
Key fixtures:
6 Group Stage matches
2 Round of 16 matches
1 Quarter Final
1 Semi Final
The 2022 World Championship Final
This huge stadium is the perfect sphere and is shaped in this way to reflect the hand-crafted bowls used in the Arab and Islamic world during the rise of civilization. The shapes within the sphere are set to look like fanar lanterns, aesthetically beautiful lanterns which originate from this part of the world.
974 Stadium
Location: Ras Abu Aboud
Distance from Doha: 10 km East
Capacity: 40,000
Key fixtures:
6 Group Stage Matches
1 Round of 16 fixture
This stadium has more of a familiar look about it, particularly for European visitors. Its rounded rectangular shape is stunning and those colorful boxes pay tribute to a very important aspect of modern Qatari life: international and local trade. 974 is the international dialing code for Qatari numbers, and it is also the exact amount of shipping containers used in its construction.
Al Thumama Stadium
Location: Al Thumama
Distance from Doha: 12 km South
Capacity: 40,000
Key fixtures:
1 Round of 16 fixture
1 Quarter Final
4 Group Stage matches
Here we have another perfectly spherical stadium which literally looks soft to the touch. The stadium walls are made to look woven, just like a gahfiya, which is the traditional woven cap worn by me and boys across the Arab world.
