All eyes are turning to Qatar which is gearing up to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Under the wise leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar is preparing to host a tournament that will drive real change in the region. Hosts Qatar will reach another milestone next month when the newly-built Al Wakrah Stadium — one of the eight venues for football’s global showpiece event — will be inaugurated with the hosting of the Amir Cup final.
The Qatar Football Association and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy announced that the 40,000-capacity venue will host the final of the prestigious tournament on May 16. Al Wakrah Stadium will become the second World Cup venue to show readiness after the iconic Khalifa International Stadium, which was also unveiled with the Amir Cup final in May 2017.
The stadium’s design is inspired by the sails of traditional dhow boats, in tribute to Al Wakrah’s seafaring past. The stadium has a fully retractable roof, meaning it can be used all-year-round. It also features innovative cooling technology for the benefit of spectators and players. The technology is capable of cooling the spectator areas to 18°C and the field of play to 20°C.
“We are honoured that one of Qatar’s World Cup venues will host this year’s Amir Cup final,” Khalid Mubarak Al Kuwari, the QFA’s Director of Marketing & Communications said. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among the spectators during the 2017 Amir Cup final when the Khalifa Stadium was inaugurated, and Al Kuwari said the QFA will be inviting leading figures of the sport for this year’s final too.
Al Wakrah Stadium Project Manager Thani Khalifa Al Zarraa described the upcoming inauguration as a major milestone. “The launch of Al Wakrah Stadium is a significant step on the road to 2022. 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.”
The world watched in awe at the spectacular redevelopment of the 50,000-seater Khalifa International Stadium, which was inaugurated in May 2017. Interestingly, the country’s iconic sports venue was inaugurated more than five years ahead of schedule. Qatar has spent billions of dollars to link up the country’s football stadiums with the most modern metro network. The state has embarked on a series of developmental projects including hotels, airports, ports, stadiums, hospitals, highways and transportation to accommodate hundreds of thousands of fans expected to arrive in Doha during the 2022 World Cup. The World Cup will leave a lasting environmental and social legacy to benefit future generations.
