The 2022 Qatar World Cup could be a little over three years away, but preparations for the global extravaganza are on course. Ahead of the tournament, world football governing body, FIFA, earmarked some of the stadiums in Qatar that will host the competition – including the now complete Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
Khalifa International Stadium receives major sustainability award – https://t.co/UV4unAamNYhttps://t.co/ZHTuNBcZbq #AspireZone pic.twitter.com/Jhqyz9MFo9
— Aspire Zone (@aspirezone) November 29, 2017
The 40,000 capacity arena is one the spectacular eight stadiums that are scheduled to play host to the 2022 World Cup. The stadium has already been given the greenlight for the competition. Photos of the facility which also doubles up as the home-ground to the Qatar national football team have since emerged, and it would be safe to conclude the stadium is breathtaking.
Khalifa International Stadium arch is completed with last 22-metre segment https://t.co/aATsSRBPJZ pic.twitter.com/gtY56P13bB
— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022) June 30, 2016
The stadium is named after the former Emir of Qatar, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani and is owned by the Qatar Football Association. It was first inaugurated in 1976 and has been reopened after undergoing an extreme makeover ahead of the World Cup.
Khalifa International Stadium will host the Emir Cup final on Friday! This is the first #Qatar2022 stadium to be completed! 🇶🇦⚽️🏆 pic.twitter.com/nySydyP5Z2
— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022) May 14, 2017
The ground now features two iconic arches that sweep over the stadium and boasts of sophisticated technologies. Thus far, it has already hosted the Gulf Cup, Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup. R
“Khalifa International Stadium, one of Aspire Zone’s most prominent venues and one of 2022 World Cup stadiums, is proudly hosting the biggest football event in Qatar, The Emir Cup final”#EmirCup pic.twitter.com/l3Bv6zJsSF
— Aspire Zone (@aspirezone) May 19, 2018
Renowned global football stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have also trained at the facility during Paris Saint-Germain’s winter training camp in the Middle East. However, despite its relatively prestigious status, there are other stadiums in the country jostling to be the most ostentatiously attractive. The Lusail Stadium which is lined up for completion in 2020 is set to be the largest stadium of the tournament with a sitting capacity of 80,000 fans.