The Stunning Stadiums of FIFA World Cup 2022
At the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar on Sunday, Dezeen has put together eight stadiums to host the tournament, including hat-shaped buildings and ‘desert diamonds.
Eight stadiums in and around Qatar’s capital, Doha, will host an international football tournament from 20 November to 18 December.
Among them are several new constructions by British companies such as Zaha Hadid Architects and Foster & Partners, as well as Qatar’s improved National Stadium.
The construction of these stadiums has been highly contentious since Qatar won the bid to host the 22nd FIFA World Cup in 2010.
According to the Guardian, he has killed more than 6,500 migrant workers in the last decade in the small Gulf state. Amnesty International said it had not investigated many of these deaths
Organisers have also come under fire for Qatar’s claim that the tournament will be the ‘first ever carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in history.
Lusail Stadium
Islamic seashells and local Qatari architecture shaped the design of the largest venue for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Architects Foster+Partners likened the venue to a golden vessel.
Lusail Stadium has 80,000 seats arranged in two tiers, concealed by a curved exterior of golden triangular panels mounted on a steel frame.
Structural engineer Arup and sports architecture specialist Populous also worked on the design of the venue for the opening match on November 22nd and the final on December 18th.
Stadium 974
Stadium 974 is named after Qatar’s international access code and the number of shipping containers used to build the stairs, kiosks, bathrooms, and parts of the exterior.
Designed by Fenwick-Iribarren Architects, the colorful building pays tribute to Qatar’s maritime history and industrial heritage near the port of Doha.
Many containers, originally used to transport materials to the site, are displayed alongside modular steel structures designed for dismantling and reuse. The 40,000-seat venue will host its first match on November 30th.
Al Janoub Stadium
The building has the characteristic curved shape of co-architect Zaha Hadid His Architects.
His 40,000-seat venue, which will host its first match on November 22, was created in partnership with AECOM and featured a fully retractable roof to keep Players and fans cool.
Its distinctive shape resembles the sail of dhows, the traditional fishing boats found in the city’s harbor, but critics have previously likened it to the female genitalia.
After the tournament, the stadium will be the home to the local football team Al Wakrah Sports Club.
Khalifa International Stadium
The only surviving building repurposed for the FIFA World Cup 2022 is the Qatar National Stadium, located 10 kilometers from Doha city center.
The Khalifa International Stadium was recently renovated by its original architect, Dar Al Handasah, who increased its capacity to 40,000, up to FIFA standards.
Before the tournament, the stadium hosted events like the Arabian Gulf Cup and the Asian Games. The first event of the World Cup will take place on November 21st.
Other recent changes to the building since its completion in 1976 include the addition of a canopy that arches over the roof and contemporary digital lighting.
Al Bayt Stadium
Multidisciplinary studio Dar Al-Handasah also designed the tent-like stadium for Al Khor, which will host the opening game of the football tournament on 20 November.
Al Bayt Stadium takes its name from the design of the traditional Bayt Al Sha’ar tents used by the nomadic tribes of the area. Inside, there are 60,000 seats in four grandstands.
Its distinctive pointed shape is achieved through a woven of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fiberglass cones and includes a retractable roof that complements the stadium’s cooling technology.
After the World Cup, the top row of seats will be removed and used to build sports infrastructure for other countries before luxury hotels are built in their place.
Al Thumama Stadium
Traditionally worn by men throughout the Middle East, the kaffiyeh cap set the standard for Qatari architect Ibrahim M. Jaida for the circular Al Thumama Stadium.
His 40,000 seats for spectators with a concrete bowl, south of Doha, will host its first match on 21 November.
According to the architect, its unique design also serves the functional purpose of shielding spectators from the sun, “just as Garfiya is used to protect the head from the heat.” It works in conjunction with a solar-powered cooling system.
There are also plans to build a boutique hotel with pitchside rooms on the top floor after the event.
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
UK architecture firm Pattern Design and engineering firm Ramboll designed this ornamental stadium on the outskirts of Doha to serve as a “desert entry and exit point.
“The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium features an ornate metal exterior, referencing the traditional Qatari facades known as the Naqsh. It contrasts the solid kiosks around the edge, alluding to the adjacent dunes.
As with all venues used for the tournament, the outdoor field is artificially cooled to ensure the comfort of the player and his 40,000 spectators. His first match will be here on November 21st.
Education City Stadium
Dubbed the ‘Diamond of the Desert, and Education City Stadium is Qatar’s eighth and final venue of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The first match is on November 22nd.
The stadium’s nickname refers to its facade, which consists of a diamond-shaped pattern borrowing the form of traditional Arabic architecture. Designed to block strong sunlight and illuminate at night.
After the Games, the venue will be converted into a sports center in the Education City area, with the top row of seats removed to make room for university classrooms and event spaces.
Conclusion
Qatar has promised to host a memorable spectacle of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Various new stadiums were built specifically for the World Cup, not just in terms of staggering financial expenditures to prepare a relatively small Middle Eastern country for the expected tens of thousands of fans.