DOHA: Qatar inaugurated the first of seven new World Cup 2022 stadiums on Thursday, just weeks before a crucial FIFA summit will decide whether to expand the tournament and potentially push it beyond the tiny Gulf state’s borders to accommodate a larger format.
In front of a capacity crowd of 40,000, Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah City hosted the Amir Cup final on Thursday night to become the second fully operational FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament venue.
Following the successful inauguration of the redeveloped Khalifa International Stadium in May 2017, Al Janoub Stadium also becomes the first Qatar 2022 venue to be built from scratch at a cost of $575 million – three-and-a-half years ahead of the big kick-off.
Qatar has pushed ahead with an ambitious scale-up of its infrastructure ahead of 2022 that includes $6-8 billion on stadiums and sporting facilities, part of efforts to use the tournament to diversify its energy economy and project itself on to the world stage through sport, Reuters reports.
Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure required for Qatar 2022, jointly announced the venue would host the Amir Cup final 2019 in April – and under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, the opening game at the venue was a resounding success.
Al Janoub Stadium is located 23km south of Doha’s city centre, and in 2022 will host matches until the quarter-finals stage of the FIFA World Cup™.
The stadium was designed by architectural icon Zaha Hadid, who was inspired by the sails of traditional dhow boats to produce a concept which honours Al Wakrah’s past, while looking forward to its bright future.
The venue, which will become the home of popular QNB Stars League team Al Wakrah Sports Club post-2022, is fitted with innovative cooling technology. Thanks to its modular nature, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced to 20,000 after the tournament, with the excess seats – from the upper tier – being donated to football development projects overseas.
Yasir Al Jamal, vice chairman of the Technical Delivery Office at the SC and chairman of the Host Country Operations Office, said: “Seeing 40,000 fans at Al Janoub Stadium for the Amir Cup final was a huge honour for everyone involved in the project. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this feat, including the SC team, our various contractors and consultants. A huge thank you also to all of the Qatari companies who have been involved in the construction of the stadium – we are proud that more than 50 per cent of the project budget was invested in the local economy.”
Al Jamal continued: “The successful delivery of Al Janoub Stadium wouldn’t have been possible without outstanding collaboration between the project team and our stakeholders across the country. We are very proud to have delivered a state-of-the-art venue that is sure to become a fans’ favourite in 2022.”
Nasser Al Khater, chief executive officer, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, said: “We have tonight – alongside our stakeholders – delivered a second world-class and fully operational stadium, fit to host the world’s greatest football competition in 2022. Work on this stadium began in 2014, and to reach where we are today in such a short period of time is a remarkable achievement for all involved.
“The stadium itself will, I’m certain, become one of the most iconic venues in 2022 and we will remember tonight for many years to come. With progress at each of the other six sites rapidly advancing, we can also look forward to many more moments like this in the years leading up to the tournament – as we prepare to welcome the world to Qatar in 2022.”
Al Janoub Stadium Project manager, Thani Khalifa Al Zarraa, said: “It has been an incredible journey for everyone involved in the construction of this magnificent stadium. The venue looks amazing and that is testament to the hard work of everyone involved. It is a privilege to say we were the ones who delivered the first stadium from scratch for Qatar 2022.”
