FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be a uniquely compact tournament, not only benefitting the fans and players but also reducing the overall carbon footprint of the tournament. FIFA and the host country have revealed base camps of all 32 teams, showing 24 teams will be staying within a 10-kilmotere radius in and around Doha. In addition, there will be no domestic flights and fans will be able to attend more than one match in a day. Teams will enjoy the same top-class training facilities throughout the tournament.
Qatar has put sustainability and legacy at the centre of the World Cup infrastructure planning and development. Many of the training sites have been designed in a way to benefit sports clubs and local communities long after the World Cup. With sustainable infrastructure planning and a number of environmental initiatives, the organisers have promised to deliver a carbon-neutral tournament. Qatar has built energy and water-efficient stadiums, used recycled materials and implemented waste management strategies. The host country has created vast new parks around many of the stadiums and training sites, which are irrigated with recycled water.
There will be three types of training sites in use during the tournament: local clubs, cluster training facilities and stadium training sites. Many have been built from scratch or renovated, representing an important part of the tournament’s legacy for grassroots football in Qatar.
An integrated transportation network is also a special feature of the tournament, with Doha Metro providing football fans with a seamless transportation experience that takes them to the stadium with ease, away from traffic congestion, which usually constitutes a significant obstacle in large public events.
While three of the stadiums are located at walking distance from the nearest metro stations, the organisers are putting in place an elaborate plan to link all the stadiums, fan areas and major shopping and population areas through a network of rail and bus.
Another human development aspect of the World Cup preparations, and overall development goals of the country, is to safeguard the rights of workers employed in World Cup projects and elsewhere in the country. Qatar and FIFA are implementing an unprecedented due diligence process to protect the rights and well-being of workers at a total of 159 hotels, including all of those that will host participating teams. FIFA has also supported member associations in their own interactions with hotels concerning workers’ rights.
