All you need to know about the renowned stadiums in Qatar for 2022 FIFA World Cup


All you need to know about the renowned stadiums in Qatar for 2022 FIFA World Cup

I iconic FIFA World Cup trophy

The countdown to the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is well and truly on. This year’s tournament is the 22nd in its history and the first ever to be hosted in the winter and in a Middle Eastern nation. On November 20, host nation Qatar kicks off proceedings with their first Group A encounter against Ecuador.

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Already, the eyes of the football world are crunching the numbers and comparing potential squads for this landmark tournament.
As the biggest international competition on the planet, and taking place only once every four years, it’s no surprise that both pre-game and live World Cup bets are some of the most popular choices on football online bet slips during the event.

But where will these matches take place? No less than eight stadiums have been constructed to provide a base for the group stage fixtures, as well as the latter stages of the knockout rounds. Below, we’ll check out four of the most eye-catching stadiums, including the venue for the 2022 World Cup Final.

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Lusail Stadium – 80,000 capacity, Lusail

The Lusail Stadium from inside

The Lusail Stadium is dubbed the ‘flagship’ venue of this year’s World Cup. It will play host to the 2022 World Cup final, which promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.

The Lusail Stadium was always at the heart of Qatar’s World Cup bid and, following a four-year construction inspired by artwork and cultures across the Arab world, the building was completed in 2021.
Bizarrely, large swathes of the construction are scheduled to be dismantled, meaning the Lusail Stadium is unlikely to remain a landmark once the World Cup is over. Instead, the area itself is ring-fenced to become a new, mixed-use community hub for the Lusail region.

Al Bayt Stadium – 60,000 capacity, Al Khor

The Al Bayt Stadium is one of the most unique-looking on the planet, let alone the footballing world. Situated in Al Khor City, it is the only stadium at this year’s World Cup that is not situated within the greater Doha area. The design of Al Bayt Stadium is inspired by the interior of a Bedouin tent. It also boasts a retractable roof, which takes just 20 minutes to open and close.


After six years of construction, the stadium finally staged its first official match in November 2021 as part of the Arab Cup.
When it comes to the World Cup, Bayt Stadium is set to stage the opening match of the competition, a further four group matches, and one game each in the last 16, last eight, and semi-finals.

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Stadium 974 – 40,000 capacity, Doha

Stadium 974 is one of the most recent constructions ahead of the 2022 World Cup. This 40,000-seater stadium was originally named the Ras Abu Aboud but has since been rebranded to Stadium 974, inspired by the international dialing code of Qatar.
The stadium incorporates 974 recycled shipping containers in the design, paying homage to Qatar’s heritage in the shipping and seafaring industries. It will host five group matches and one Round of 16.


Stadium 974 is the most centrally located of all the eight stadia that will be used this winter. It’s just a kilometer from the Ras Abu Aboud Metro station, which serves the Gold line across central Doha.

Al Janoub Stadium – 40,000 capacity, Al Wakrah

Al Wakrah’s Al Janoub Stadium has been open since 2019. From an architectural perspective, it’s one of the most fascinating World Cup 2022 arenas. It was designed by the world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, with the hulls of iconic pearl fishing boats acting as the inspiration for the roof. There is a feeling of symmetry between both sides of the stadium. It’s almost reminiscent of the iconic ‘Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing.


The Al Janoub Stadium will host six of the group matches, and one Round of 16 knockout games. The Al Janoub Stadium will be one of the harder arenas to get to, given that its closest Metro station lies five kilometers away. Like several other of Qatar’s stadiums, it is slated to be scaled down after the tournament, with capacity halved to 20,000 for the stadium’s permanent tenants Al-Wakrah FC.

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