December 2 – Qatar will inaugurate a fourth World Cup stadium when the Al Rayyan venue hosts the Amir Cup Final on December 18, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has announced.
The match between Al Sadd and Al Arabi, the Qatari cup final, will be staged on Qatar’s national day. In 2022, Doha will host the World Cup final on December 18 as well.
The 40,000-capacity venue will host seven World Cup matches, including a round of 16 match. “Our World Cup preparations remain on track, with 90% of infrastructure projects completed,” said the secretary general of the local organizing committee Hassan Al Thawadi in a statement. “We look forward to unveiling more stadiums next year.”
Last December, Qatar hosted the FIFA Club World Cup, but at the last minute plans for the Education City Stadium to become the centerpiece venue of the competition had to be ditched. The stadium has been inaugurated in the meantime.
The Khalifa International Stadium and Al Janoub stadium were previously completed. Al Bayt and Al Thumama are close to completion as well, according to the local organisers. Qatar will host World Cup matches at eight different venues.
The venue in Al Rayyan has a modular structure. The capacity will be reduced after the global finals as parts of the stadium will be repurposed in Qatar and overseas.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1731772515labto1731772515ofdlr1731772515owedi1731772515sni@o1731772515fni1731772515