Industry News

Qatar World Cup venues to be ready by 2020 – organisers

The organising committee for the 2022 edition of football’s Fifa World Cup in Qatar has revealed that it remains on track to deliver all of its stadia two years before the event begins.

Yasser Al Mulla, the landscape and sport turf management senior manager for Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said that all eight venues will be completed with time to spare.

The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha has already been finished after renovation work concluded on the 40,000-seat venue last year.

Al Mulla said: “All the stadiums will be completed two years before the tournament starts. Khalifa International Stadium is already completed and was opened by His Highness The Emir last May. The other seven stadiums are currently being constructed, with two – Al Wakrah Stadium and Al Bayt Stadium – close to completion.”

Al Mulla added: “The event is helping to accelerate progress across Qatar. It is also helping to break down social barriers. We know that sport has the power to bring people together and help them understand different cultures.

“Hosting the first World Cup in the Middle East is a huge responsibility and we are determined to make the whole region very proud.”

Al Mulla was speaking during the European Stadium & Safety Management Association Summit at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

During the event, he also revealed details of the Supreme Committee’s plans for a pitch development project, which is set to create surfaces that will complement Qatar’s climate.

“We have developed significant turf development knowledge for Qatar’s conditions,” said Al Mulla. “We have created a state-of-the-art research and development centre – one of only two in the world – which aims to deliver the perfect pitch for 2022. Our aim is to develop a signature pitch that can be used in winter or summer, in shade or in sunlight.”

He added: “Our trials have provided insightful data on grass resilience for different weather conditions and soil types. We will soon reveal the signature design grass species to be used during the tournament.”

The Qatar 2022 World Cup is set to become the first World Cup not to be held in June or July, with provisional dates having been set for November 21 to December 18.

Image: Supreme Committee