The 2022 World Cup in Qatar gets underway this week and that means fans all over the world will be able to get their first glimpse of the eight stadiums which will be hosting the tournament.
All eight venues are situated within a 21-mile radius of central Doha, the capital city, while seven of them have only been built on a temporary basis and will be dismantled or reduced in capacity and repurposed as other facilities following the end of the World Cup.
Mirror Football takes a look at all eight venues set to be used in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including how many spectators they hold, where they are located and which games they will be hosting.
Lusail Iconic Stadium
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Location - Lusail
Capacity - 80,000
Matches - 10 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final, 1x Semi-Final, Final)
The Lusail Iconic Stadium is the largest capacity-venue set to be used at the 2022 World Cup. The 80,000-seater will play host to the final on December 18, before most of the seats will be removed and donated to developing countries at the end of the tournament.
Group stage fixtures:
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Brazil vs Serbia
Argentina vs Mexico
Portugal vs Uruguay
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
Cameroon vs Brazil
Al Bayt Stadium
Location - Al Khor
Capacity - 60,000
Matches - 9 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final, 1x Semi-Final)
The second largest venue at the 2022 World Cup, the Al Bayt Stadium will host the opening fixture between Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday, November 20, along with England’s clash with the USA and one of the two semi-finals. Due to the temperatures in Al Khor, it will also have a retractable roof to keep out the heat.
Group stage fixtures:
Qatar vs Ecuador
Morocco vs Croatia
England vs USA
Spain vs Germany
Netherlands vs Qatar
Costa Rica vs Germany
Stadium 974
Location - Doha
Capacity - 40,000
Matches - 7 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16)
Stadium 974 is one of the three smallest stadiums set to be used in Qatar and will only host matches up to the round of 16. Its unusual name comes from the fact it is made out of 974 shipping containers, which make the stadium easy to dismantle after the tournament.
Group stage fixtures:
Mexico vs Poland
Portugal vs Ghana
France vs Denmark
Brazil vs Switzerland
Poland vs Argentina
Serbia vs Switzerland
Al Thumama Stadium
Location - Doha
Capacity - 40,000
Matches - 8 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final)
One of the most impressive venues, the Al Thumama Stadium prepares to host eight matches up to and including the quarter-finals at this year’s World Cup. The 40,000-seater will have its capacity halved following the tournament, with a mosque and a hotel set to be constructed on the site.
Group stage fixtures:
Senegal vs Netherlands
Spain vs Costa Rica
Qatar vs Senegal
Belgium vs Morocco
Iran vs USA
Canada vs Morocco
Khalifa International Stadium
Location - Al Rayyan
Capacity - 45,416
Matches - 8 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, Third Place Play-off)
The home of Qatar’s national team, the Khalifa International Stadium was initially built in 1976. It has since undergone a major renovation ahead of the World Cup, while England have already played in this stadium when they faced Brazil in a friendly in 2009.
Group stage fixtures:
England vs Iran
Germany vs Japan
Netherlands vs Ecuador
Croatia vs Canada
Ecuador vs Senegal
Japan vs Spain
Education City Stadium
Location - Al Rayyan
Capacity - 45,350
Matches - 8 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final)
Located just outside the centre of Doha, the Education City Stadium will host eight matches throughout the World Cup, including two knockout round fixtures. It has been nicknamed 'the diamond in the desert' as it is designed to glisten by day and glow at night and was already constructed prior to Qatar being named as 2022 hosts.
Group stage fixtures:
Denmark vs Tunisia
Uruguay vs South Korea
Poland vs Saudi Arabia
South Korea v Ghana
Tunisia vs France
South Korea vs Portugal
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Location - Al Rayyan
Capacity - 44,740
Matches - 8 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16, 1x Quarter-Final)
Initially called the Al-Rayyan Stadium, the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium will play host to eight matches throughout the World Cup, including England’s final Group B clash with Wales on November 29. The 40,000-seater is in close proximity to the desert, meaning temperatures here are expected to be especially hot.
Group stage fixtures:
USA vs Wales
Belgium vs Canada
Wales vs Iran
Japan vs Costa Rica
Wales vs England
Croatia vs Belgium
Al Janoub Stadium
Location - Al Wakrah
Capacity - 40,000
Matches - 7 (6x Group Matches, 1x Round of 16)
Last but not least is the 40,000-capacity Al Janoub Stadium situated in the city of Al Wakrah, which boasts a retractable roof and an innovative cooling system. The venue will host seven matches in total, but only up until the round of 16, before it is reduced in capacity by 50-percent at the end of the tournament.
Group stage fixtures:
France vs Australia
Switzerland vs Cameroon
Tunisia vs Australia
Cameroon vs Serbia
Australia vs Denmark
Ghana vs Uruguay
