Industry News

Turf at Qatar 2022 World Cup stadium laid in record time

Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), which is responsible for delivering the stadia and infrastructure for football’s 2022 Fifa World Cup, along with the Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), has turfed the Khalifa International Stadium in world record time.

The 7,800 squared metres of turf at the World Cup venue was laid in 13 hours and 30 minutes.

The newly renovated 40,000-capacity stadium is set to welcome players for the first time next month.

“This achievement should be attributed to the state of Qatar, not only AZF and the SC,” said director general of Aspire Logistics, Abdullah Nasser Al Naimi, according to Qatari newspaper The Peninsula. “It’s further evidence of AZF’s world-class expertise and demonstrates the innovative human and technological capabilities that we have developed across the organisation, and which are helping position Qatar at the forefront of the global sporting industry.”

Youssif Al Musleh, deputy executive director of the technical department office at the SC, added: “We would like to congratulate our partners’ at Aspire Zone Foundation in laying the pitch for Khalifa International Stadium in the record time of 13 and a half hours. The pitch was moved from the SC’s Turf Nursery project and laid down inside Khalifa Stadium by a team of 40 specialists on site as the venue nears completion.

“Khalifa International Stadium is a historic venue in the eyes of the local community and region, and the fan and player experience in 2022 will ensure that it becomes a memorable venue for the world when Qatar hosts the tournament at the 2022 Fifa World Cup.”

AZF established a Centre of Excellence for natural sports turf research and development to improve the management and maintenance of turf at stadiums and facilities.

The firm now operates a natural sports turf farm in the Middle East where the surface for the Khalifa International Stadium was grown.