Know World Cup Stadiums’ Fate After the Tournament

After the last three World Cups in South Africa, Brazil, and Russia, a number of stadiums remained vacant and were not used on a long-term basis. Qatar, though, intends to buck the trend of "white elephants" this time.

In Qatar, seven of the eight stadiums that will host the forthcoming competition were completely new construction, while the eighth was extensively rebuilt.

The majority of the 2022 World Cup stadiums will decrease their post-tournament capacity from 40,000 to 20,000 as part of a sustainability strategy.

Authorities in Qatar have offered to provide undeveloped countries 170,000 stadium seats that have been removed.

Two of the best teams in the Qatar Stars League (QSL), local football clubs Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah, will relocate to the new World Cup stadiums after the tournament.

Hosts to QSL

In the 40,000-seat Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, one of the 12 clubs in the Qatar Super League, Al Rayyan, will play.

Al Janoub Stadium will continue to host local club Al Wakrah's games as part of the QSL, but with a lower capacity of 20,000 following the competition.

The Khalifa International Stadium, the oldest of the eight, was completely renovated to hold 40,000 people. It is located in the center of Doha.

The often-utilized stadium has hosted events including the Arabian Gulf Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and the track and field world championships.

The Khalifa Stadium will continue to host games and major competitions after the World Cup.

What will happen to the remaining venues after the worldwide event that has taken 12 years to plan is over?

Stadium 974

Ras Abu Aboud's venue won't become a "white elephant" as it won't be around anymore. The 40,000-seat stadium made of 974 repurposed shipping containers that is situated on the port side, just east of Doha, will be dismantled to make room for a waterfront business development.

Lusail Stadium

No team in Qatar will be able to call Qatar's gleaming Lusail Stadium home, despite the fact that it boasts a capacity of 80,000 spectators and a distinctive gold facade.

Instead, in accordance with sustainable development, it will become a community hub with housing units, shops, cafés, schools, and medical services.

The upper layer will be used as outdoor terracing for future residences.

Al Bayt Stadium

A similar fate awaits the 60,000-seat Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City, which will play home to the first match between Qatar and Ecuador on November 20.

Its upper deck will be removed following the competition to create a place for extra seating that will be repurposed. The stadium structure will also include a five-star hotel, a retail center, and other facilities in addition to the inauguration of a hospital for sports medicine.

Al Thumama Stadium

Another 40,000-seat facility near the city's center will have fewer seats available. The arena will thereafter host football games and other athletic events. But it's not yet clear which.

There will be a hotel and a sports clinic on site.

Education City Stadium

The stadium, which is part of Qatar Foundation's Education City, will serve as a facility for students at nearby universities. Its capacity will be reduced to just 20,000 seats.