Photo: Unsplash The 2022 World Cup is approaching and the whole world is eagerly awaiting its start. Qatar will host an incredible football tournament between the best men's football teams on the planet. This will be only the second time the World Cup has been held in Asia, with Japan and South Korea co-hosting the event in 2002 for the first time.One of the biggest attractions of the World Cup are the stadiums. Host countries spend a lot of money on new facilities or renovating old facilities for the big event. Qatar has invested more than any other country and will have the most expensive World Cup in history. In total, there are eight stadiums that will host the biggest international football tournament in the world.
State-of-the-art facilities include climate control systems to control stadium temperatures, retractable roofs and more modern amenities. The 8 stadiums will host 32 teams that will play 64 matches in the tournament that starts on November 20, 2022.
Find out a little more about these stadiums and their interesting facts:
Lusail Square
The Lusail Iconic Stadium, located in the city of Lusail, is the largest stadium in this World Cup and will host 10 matches of the tournament in 2022. It has a capacity for 80,000 people and is just 15 kilometers from the capital Doha. Groups C, D, G and H will have their games played at home, with Brazil's debut there. The bias of the Brazilian team can be seen in the risk of sports betting on international sites such as Sportsbet io. The latter is also planned to be held in these spaces, decorated with Arabic designs and local art.
Square At The Bayt
Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor will host the first World Cup match between Qatar and Ecuador. It was built to resemble the tents used by the region's original inhabitants. The venue has a capacity of 60,000 people, making it the second largest of all stadiums in Qatar.
Al Janoub Square
Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah will host seven matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It is designed as a local fleet, with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, the smallest in all other venues except Lusail and Al Bayt.
Education City Square
Education City Stadium is one of three stadiums in Al Rayyan that will host the next World Cup. There will be a total of eight games here. With a capacity for 40,000 people, it is one of seven new stadiums built for the tournament.
974 stadiums
Stadium 974 in the center of Doha, Qatar. It will host seven games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and also has a capacity for 40,000 people. A new venue specially equipped for the tournament, Stadium 974 will host teams from Groups C, D, G and H and is located on the Gulf Coast.
Ahmad Bin Ali Square
Also in the city of Al Rayyan, the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, with a capacity for 40,000 people, will host seven matches of the tournament. It replaces an old stadium that already exists in the municipality and is a stadium designed to reflect the desert and represent the culture of its residents.
Khalifa International Stadium
The Khalifa International Stadium is a popular venue recognized as the country's most important stadium since the 1970s. It will host eight matches of the 2022 World Cup, is the home ground of the Qatar national team and can also accommodate up to 40,000 people. It is the only stadium that was not built from scratch, as it has been in use since 1976.
Al Thumama Stadium
Another stadium in the city of Doha, Al Thumama Stadium also has a capacity for 40,000 people and will host matches from Groups A, B, E and F.