May 15 – Another milestone in the development of 2022 World Cup infrastructure will be achieved on Thursday when the newly-built 40,000-capacity Al Wakrah Stadium hosts its first competitive game, the domestic Emir Cup final.
The modular arena is one of eight World Cup venues, the second to complete construction after the Khalifa International Stadium and the first to be built from scratch.
Located 23km from Doha city centre, the stadium boasts a retractable roof and innovative cooling system, equipping it for year-round use.
“The launch of Al Wakrah Stadium is a significant step on the road to 2022,” said Thani Khalifa Al Zarraa, stadium project manager for the World Cup organisers. “Its innovative and futuristic design means it is set to be one of the iconic venues during the first FIFA World Cup in the Arab world. We hope thousands of football fans across the country will join us for this landmark occasion as we celebrate the progress we have made to-date and look forward to 2022 with renewed excitement.”
Al Wakrah Stadium will eventually be home to Al Wakrah Sports Club. After the World Cup, its capacity will be reduced to 20,000 with excess seats donated to football development projects overseas, a key part of Qatar’s World Cup sustainability strategy.
Al Sadd and Al-Duhail will compete in the final tomorrow. The winner will be the 47th Emir Cup champions.
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