The World Cup in Qatar is fast approaching, with only eight months until the tournament kicks off in Doha.
Thirty two teams will play a total of 64 games across 27 days in the battle to be named World Champions, with France the early favourites but plenty of strong sides willing to challenge the current holders.
You can find out everything about the draw for the tournament below.
When is the World Cup draw? All the key details ahead of Qatar showpiece
But, while the teams may be well known, the venues for the tournament games are far less so. 101 Great Goals takes a look at the eight venues that are set to hold the month-long showpiece.
📰 Table Of Contents
- 1 Al Bayt Stadium
- 2 Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
- 3 Al Janoub Stadium
- 4 Khalifa International Stadium
- 5 Qatar Foundation Stadium
- 6 Lusail Stadium
- 7 Ras Abu Aboud Stadium
- 8 Al Thumama Stadium
- 9 The data behind the referee: A look back at Mike Dean’s career
- 10 Out of Contract XI: The players set to be in high demand this summer
Al Bayt Stadium
Capacity: 60,000
The second-largest stadium to be used for the competition, Al Bayt stadium is set to host the opening game of the competition.
Located in Al Kohr, around 35km outside of Doha, the 60,000 seater arena has a tent-like design with a retractable roof. It was opened officially at the end of November 2021, when Qatar saw off Bahrain courtesy of a 1-0 scoreline in the opener of the FIFA Arab Cup.
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Games to be played: Group matches, round of 16
Home to Saudi Pro League side Al Rayyan, this stadium was demolished in 2014 in order to be rebuilt into a bigger venue for the upcoming tournament. Set to host group stage matches and a round of 16 tie, it was opened officially in December 2020, and hosted 4 Arab Cup games last year.
After the tournament, the capacity is set to drop to just 21,000 seats, with the ‘dismantled upper tier’ to be donated to “nations in need of sporting infrastructure.”
Al Janoub Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Games to be played: Group matches and round of 16
Located in the east of Qatar, this 40,000 seater stadium is the current home of Qatar Stars League side Al Wakrah SC.
According to the designers of the stadium, it has been inspired by the sails of boats used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, as ‘bowed beams hold up the roof, resembling a ship’s hull and allowing light to flood into the arena’.
The second stadium completed on this list, Al Janoub Stadium is set to play host to group stage matches and round of 16 ties in the upcoming tournament.
Khalifa International Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Games to be played: Group matches, round of 16, and 3rd place playoff
The national stadium located in Doha, Al Khalifa was the first arena to be made ready for the World Cup all the way back in 2017. However, it has been used long before that. It officially opened in 1976, but has been renovated twice since then, and has played host to a range of sports including track and field events, with the Doha Diamond League taking place there.
Now up to a capacity of 40,000 for the tournament, it will play host to the third-place play-off game, as well as round of 16 and group stage ties.
Qatar Foundation Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Games to be played: Group matches, round of 16, and quarter-finals
Also known as the Education City Stadium, it became the third stadium for the tournament to be opened, in June 2020. For the World Cup, it will have a capacity of 40,000, before it halves after the tournament to just 25,000 spectators. It will be used for athletics by the educational facilities that surround the ‘diamond in the desert’, so-called because of the shiny white design that surrounds the arena.
For the tournament, it will be used for games all the way through to the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Lusail Stadium
Capacity: 80,000
Games to be played: Games all the way through to the final.
The flagship stadium for the tournament, Lusail was commissioned in 2014 and will be where the final is played out. With a capacity of 80,000 people and just 25km outside of Doha, it was due to host friendly games ahead of the tournament, but delays to construction left this impossible.
It was finally opened in November 2021, and after the tournament its capacity will be halved, and Lusail Stadium will become part of a wider infrastructure that includes shops and various other amenities.
Ras Abu Aboud Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Games to be played: Group matches and round of 16
The oddest looking stadium of the group, the Ras Abou Aboud Stadium (also known as Stadium 974) is largely made up of shipping containers and is a temporary stadium built solely for the World Cup. It is the first of its kind to be used in the history of the tournament, and after the competition the containers will be reportedly sent to Africa to aid underdeveloped nations.
For the tournament, however, it will play host to games through the group stages and the round of 16.
Al Thumama Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Games to be played: Group matches, round of 16, and quarter-finals
Opened in November 2021, the Al Thumama Stadium will hold games for their 40,000 capacity all the way through to the quarter final stages.
According to the designers, ‘Al Thumama Stadium’s facade draws inspiration from the woven patterns of a gafhiya, a traditional cap for Muslim men. Its symbolism is rooted in virtues like dignity and freedom, an homage to its Qatari hosts.’
After the tournament, like others its capacity will be halved to just 20,000, with the other seats being used elsewhere.
