The stadiums hosting World Cup games are a major attraction for fans. Host nations invest heavily in brand-new or significantly renovated stadiums to host the massive event. The 2022 World Cup, to be held in Qatar, promises to be one of the most memorable tournaments ever.
This tournament will mark the first of such an event in the Arab world. Geographically, Qatar ’22 is the most condensed World Cup ever. Only about 35 miles separate the farthest two stadiums in the tournament.
There will be eight stadiums in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. This article will discuss the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar stadium capacities.
The event, which kicks off on November 20 and continues over the next month and a half, features eight stadiums and 64 matches involving 32 participating clubs. Solar-powered cooling technology is installed in all stadiums, training facilities, and fan zones. Each stadium will be environmentally friendly and feature climate control.
The eight stadiums that will host games during the tournament are as follows.
| Stadium Name | Location | Capacity | Number of matches played |
| Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium | Al Rayyan | 40,000 | 7 |
| Al Bayt Stadium | Al Khor | 60,000 | 9 |
| Al Janoub Stadium | Al Wakrah | 40,000 | 7 |
| Al Thumama Stadium | Doha | 40,000 | 8 |
| Education City Stadium | Al Rayyan | 40,000 | 8 |
| Khalifa International Stadium | Al Rayyan | 40,000 | 8 |
| Lusail Stadium | Lusail | 80,000 | 10 |
| Stadium 974 | Doha | 40,000 | 7 |
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
Only two of the twelve stadiums used in the 2022 World Cup already existed at the time the tournament was planned, and this is one of them. The stadium and its surrounding facilities are intended to evoke the desert landscape of Qatar, complete with sand-dune-shaped buildings.
A modular top tier will allow Ahmad bin Ali Stadium to hold 40,000 fans in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After the tournament, it will be reduced to a capacity of just under 20,000. The venue’s upper tier will be taken down, and the seats will be redistributed to other venues in Qatar and beyond.
Al Bayt Stadium
Nearly 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Doha, Al Bayt Stadium is the tournament’s most remote location. The approximate capacity of Al Bayt Stadium is 60,000. It’s unlike any other stadium because a massive tent covers it. It is built in the style of the traditional tents used by the region’s nomadic peoples.
The stadium will host the first game of the tournament and three knockout games, one of which will be a semifinal. After the end of the tournament, Al Bayt will be reduced in size from 34,000 to 32,000.
Al Janoub Stadium
Located in Al Wakrah, a city in the country’s south, the Al Janoub Stadium opened in May 2019. It can hold up to 40,000 people. The design is styled like classic dhow boats. Beautiful countryside surrounds the stadium, a fitting backdrop to the spectacular facility. Following the game, a trip to the waterfront or souq will delight any Al Janoub spectators.
Following the conclusion of the competition, seats in Al Janoub will be distributed to other sporting events worldwide.
Al Thumama Stadium
The Al Thumama Stadium is considered a classic example of Arab architectural design. The gahfiya, a type of woven headwear common to men and boys in the Middle East, inspires the stadium’s design. It reflects how deeply rooted in history and culture the Arab world is. They used a circular design for the exterior and roof. The maximum number of attendees is 40,000. The stadium will be reverted to a 20,000-person capacity when the tournament is over.
Parks and other recreational facilities have been built in and around the stadium to “improve the lives and futures of the local population” and add to the area’s aesthetic value.
Education City Stadium
In the heart of Qatar’s worldwide center of excellence, Education City. Many top-tier academic institutions surround the brand-new Education City Stadium. The stadium is about seven kilometers from the heart of Doha, Qatar. It features state-of-the-art cooling systems to keep fans comfortable. As the sun moves across the sky, so do the colors of the Education City Stadium.
Up to forty thousand people can fit inside the stadium. Twenty thousand bleacher seats will be given to countries in need of stadiums when the event is over.
Khalifa International Stadium
Khalifa International Stadium has been updated since its 1976 debut. In 2005, it underwent an expansion and renovation. The stadium’s twin arches were built to symbolize “continuity and welcome fans from around the world.”
In terms of spectators, the Khalifa International Stadium can accommodate up to 45,416. Out of the eight stadiums used for the World Cup, only Khalifa International Stadium will remain in its current configuration after the event has concluded.
Lusail Stadium
For the 2022 World Cup, the final ceremony will be held at the brand new Lusail Stadium, one of the main venues in Qatar. The Lusail Stadium will be the biggest football stadium in Qatar in 2022, with a capacity of 80,000. The design and shiny gold exterior are meant to evoke the traditional fanar lantern by being “influenced by the interplay of light and shadow.” Ten 2022 FIFA World Cup matches will be played at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail.
Stadium 974
On November 20, 2021, a ceremony marked the debut of Stadium 974 to the public. The Stadium 974 is a pioneering effort in the history of sports stadium construction, and its name comes from Qatar’s international calling code (+974). The stadium is one of a kind, making it a prime candidate for the title of most memorable World Cup location.
During the World Cup, supporters worldwide will stay at the hotels surrounding Stadium 974 in West Bay. The capacity of the facility is 40,000.
