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Opening match at Al Thumama Stadium to be played at full capacity

Qatar’s Al Thumama Stadium will operate at full capacity when it stages its first match, the final of the Amir Cup, later this month.

The 40,000-seat stadium will become the sixth of Qatar’s eight FIFA World Cup venues to be deemed fully operational when it hosts the match between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan on October 22.

It was announced last month that the final would mark the first official match at Al Thumama Stadium and it has now been confirmed that the venue will operate without restrictions on capacity.

COVID-19 protocols will be in place for fans attending the match, with spectators required to be fully vaccinated against the virus. Fans under the age of 12 will be required to take a rapid COVID-19 test within 24 hours of the match and show proof of a negative result upon entering the stadium.

“Al Thumama Stadium will be at full capacity for the Amir Cup final, which I feel will be one of the best finals in history,” Rashid Al Khater, director of operations for the event’s local organising committee, said, according to the Peninsula Qatar newspaper.

“It will be the first time that such a large number of fans will attend a sports event since the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s obviously a challenge for us to host a huge number of fans but we are confident of succeeding in this challenge.”

Roads surrounding Al Thumama Stadium will be closed in the lead-up to the match, which had originally been due to take place on May 14 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium before it was delayed due to the pandemic.

Al Thumama Stadium will host matches up to and including the quarter-final at the World Cup and will also be used during the FIFA Arab Cup later this year.

Al Thumama Stadium will join Khalifa International Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium, Education City Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium and Al Bayt Stadium as fully operational Qatar 2022 venues. The two remaining under-construction venues are Lusail Stadium and Ras Abu Aboud Stadium.

Image: Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy