In just under Four days the 2022 FIFA World Cup will get underway in Qatar this tournament is being held in the Middle East for the first time and Qatar has built eight impressive Mega stadiums to host this massive tournament. One of the stadiums is designed like traditional Middle Eastern woven cap , another is made of shipping containers and one venue has infamously been likened to a woman’s private parts while they are striking in design the eight venues pose a logistical relief to the fans attending arguably the most controversial World Cup ever Qatar is home to Less Than 3 million people and it is the smallest country to ever host a World Cup so the legacy of the tournament has to be managed carefully if you add up the total costs taking into account not only the cost of building new stadiums and renovating existing ones but also all the money spent on infrastructure this year’s World Cup is by far the most expensive of all time Qatar has reportedly amassed astronomical costs of around 220 billion dollars by contrast the cost of the 2006 WorldCup in Germany was only at a minuscule 4.3 billion dollars but it must be taken into account that the costs associated with the new stadiums in Qatar are only in the order of 7 to 10 billion dollars the bulk of the spending is an infrastructure related costs which are part of the broader Qatar 2030 plan.
Unique Features of Stadiums
The stadiums are all situated within a 21-mile radius of central Doha and will be linked by a Metro and tram system making it possible to watch more than one game on the same day for any fan wishing to do so with high summer temperatures each stadium is equipped with solar powered cooling technology to keep the temperature at 27 degrees Celsius stadiums are eco-friendly and their temperature will be controllable the tournament organizers have pledged to build stadiums with modular Elements which will be reconfigured after the tournament to provide a lasting Legacy for the World Cup far beyond Qatar’s borders only one Stadium will be called home to a football team afterwards one other Stadium will be dismantled together while six of the remaining venues will have half their seats taken up and sent to developing countries to help improve their Sports infrastructure with this step as many as 22 new stadiums will be created in emerging economies with all that said now let’s take a closer look at the eight stadiums and their Unique Designs.
Lusail Stadium
Number one Lusail Stadium the Shelby Stadium for the tournament that will host the opening fixture and the final as well as other key matches is Lucille Stadium this stadium was designed by Foster and partners and it can accommodate up to 80000 Spectators which is the highest capacity out of all stadiums its design has been inspired by the Phantom lantern is characterized by its interplay of light and Shadow Lusail’s shape and facade Echo the intricate decorative motifs on bulls and other vessels characteristic of the golden age of Art and craftsmanship in the Arab and Islamic world the stadium was opened this year very much behind schedule and it is 10 miles away from the Doha City Center at the end of the tournament most of the seats will be removed and donated to developing countries as the new city of Lusail will not need its own football stadium after 2022.
Al Bayt Stadium
Al Bayt Stadium one of the largest stadiums the AL Bayt Stadium will stage matches right through to the semifinals of the competition it is set to host nine matches and will be the stage for the opening ceremony and Opening match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador this stadium has the second highest capacity accommodating 60 000 spectators the arena is designed to represent Arab Hospitality with the structure looking like a traditional Arab tent known as bet Al Sha’ar the Stadium’s design honors Qatar’s past and present while being a model of green development and sustainability because temperatures in Qatar can top 30 degrees Celsius even in November it will also have a retractable roof to keep out the Heat located 27 miles from away from the city center it is the furthest Stadium from Doha but fans not wanting to leave can stay in its plus five-star hotel and experience the luxury amenities at its shopping center which will be opened at the venue.
Al Janoub Stadium
Al Janoub Stadium the futuristic design of the Al Janoubstadium is inspired by the sales of the Dow boats traditional to the country of Qatar and a nod to the coastal City’s Maritime heritage it boasts a retractable roof and an Innovative cooling system to ensure the ground can hold events all year round even during the Searing heat of the summer months it was designed by the world-renowned late British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid the funny thing about this stadium is when hadith’s design was first released and went viral commentators suggested the stadium looked more like a woman’s private parts. Al Janoub stadium was the first of the World Cup stadiums to be completed back in the summer of May 2019 and it has a capacity of forty thousand.
Stadium 974
Stadium 974. in a first for the World Cup this stadium has been made from 974 shipping containers and other modular steel elements echoing the nearby port and the industrial history of the plot due to the upcycled materials used the stadium can easily be dismantled after the tournament finishes the Stadium’s clever modular design meant that fewer normal building materials were required than in traditional Stadium development which helped keep construction costs down Stadium 974 is the only Waterfront venue with a spectacular view of the Doha Skyline the result is a distinctive boldly colorful and Thoroughly Modern Arena the concept of the stadium was designed by Fenwick Urban architects.
Education City Stadium
Education City Stadium this stadium is right inside Qatar Foundation just outside the center of Doha which is well known around the world hosting six matches through to the quarterfinals the Education City Stadium is set to become the home of the National Women’s team after the World Cup the stadium takes the shape of a diamond and will be nicknamed The Diamond in the desert as it is designed to glisten by day and glow at night the facade of the stadium features triangles that form complex diamond-like geometrical patterns which appear to change color with the sun’s movement across the sky like diamonds the Stadium’s design represents quality durability and resilience and will become something to be treasured both For The Memories it holds and its future value to the country.
Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium
Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium this Stadium which also underwent a name change after initially being called the AL Ryan Stadium will host seven matches up until the quarter-final stage and is meant to be a reflection of Qatari culture the facade features intricate patterns representing the country of Qatar from its Wildlife to its history of the tree the ground is in proximity to the desert so the hospitality areas and merchandise stalls outside the ground will be shaped to resemble dunes located in Al Ryan the stadium was built on the site of the old ground with the majority of construction materials were used to erect the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium.
Al Thumana Stadium
Al Thumana Stadium this stadium is inspired by the GAHFIYA a traditional woven cap was worn by men across the Middle East and it’s easy to see in pictures of the stadium the Garfield forms a fundamental layer of the traditional clothing of the region it is also a symbol of dignity and Independence this is the first World Cup venue to be designed by a Qatari architect Ibrahim Al-Jaida with a capacity of 40 000 the stadium will host a total of eight matches during the World Cup after the tournament, the stadium will have its capacity to donate the seats to developing countries the remaining twenty thousand seat Arena will be used for football and other sporting events a sports clinic will open on-site as well as a boutique hotel which will replace the Stadium’s upper stance the precinct surrounding the stadium will become a community Hub with facilities for multiple Sports there will also be several retail and Commercial units created to ensure the area becomes a bustling Hub of exercise and activity.
Khalifa International
Khalifa International Stadium this was one of the only stadiums to have been opened before the World Cup was awarded to Qatar it was initially built in 1976 it also hosted the Amir Cup Final in May last year in front of 40 000 spectators it has been the country’s National Stadium since it opened and has been extensively renovated to host the World Cup this year in 2005 the stadium was renovated and expanded to serve as the centerpiece of the 2006 Asian Games hosted by Qatar it is also hosted the golf cup the AFC Asian Cup and the IAAF World Athletics Championships in 2019 the stadium which includes sweeping arcs and partially covered stands are the centerpiece of a Spire Zone a sports complex that includes the Spire Academy for sports excellence and many other sporting venues attached to the stadium via walkway is the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and sports museum adding to the appreciation of how this venue cherishes its past as it builds towards an exciting future.
Controversies
Like any other Mega construction project, these Stadium projects have also undergone their share of criticism and controversy the World Cup in Qatar has come under International criticism not only for its high cost but above all for human rights violations thousands of workers have reportedly dagged due to dangerous working conditions while building the stadiums due to these allegations, there is an ongoing debate in many countries about whether or not to watch the World Cup recently most big cities in France decided against broadcasting the games in public on big screens due to human rights violations and environmental impacts of the stadiums now that the tournament is just days away and Qatar is all prepped to host the games it is highly unlikely that the decision to hold the games in Qatar will be reversed what are your thoughts on these Stadium projects.