Lusail Stadium, the centrepiece of Qatar’s staging of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, will host a special event on September 9 which organisers say will represent the “final milestone” in preparations for the national team football tournament.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has announced that the 80,000-capacity stadium will stage the ‘Lusail Super Cup’ between the Saudi Pro League champions and Egyptian Premier League winners, followed by a concert from a “famous singer”.
Lusail Stadium, which is located in Lusail, a newly-built city located 15km north of central Doha, will host matches during every stage of Qatar 2022, starting with the Group C clash between Argentina and Saudi Arabia on November 22 and ending with the final on December 18.
The latest news comes after it was announced last month that Lusail Stadium will host its first match on August 11. The Qatar Stars League (QSL), the top tier of domestic club football, included the stadium amongst a series of amendments to its schedule for the 2022-23 season.
Al Arabi’s game against Al Rayyan in week two of the season has been switched to Lusail Stadium, meaning it will be the first official match at the venue.
Commenting on the staging of the Lusail Super Cup, H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of the SC, said: “Showcasing Lusail Stadium is the final milestone in our journey ahead of the big kick-off on November 21.
“This incredible venue forms the centrepiece of our tournament and will be the focus of the world’s attention when it hosts the FIFA World Cup final on December 18, which is also Qatar National Day. I am proud this venue will play a major role during the tournament and also deliver a lasting legacy for the people of Lusail and the wider community.”
Nasser Al Khater, CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, added: “Lusail Stadium will provide a magnificent stage for this year’s FIFA World Cup final – the biggest and most prestigious football match on the planet.
“As far as preparations for the FIFA World Cup are concerned, this is the final piece of the jigsaw. Fans can expect a memorable and welcoming experience when they arrive in Qatar for the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world.
“Hosting this prestigious match at Lusail Stadium will give us a great opportunity to test the venue’s readiness and the many operational plans we have put in place.”
Lusail Stadium is due to host 10 matches during the World Cup, including the final, one semi-final, a quarter-final, a Round of 16 match and six group games.
Once the World Cup is over, Lusail Stadium will be transformed into a multi-purpose community space including schools, shops, cafés, sporting facilities and health clinics – all under the original roof of the stadium.
During the conversion, most of the stadium’s 80,000 seats will be removed and donated to sporting projects around the globe.
Sustainable building practices were used throughout the construction of Lusail Stadium. Recycled water was used to irrigate plants around the stadium, while water efficient fixtures and leak detection systems are operational. The construction site is said to have conserved 40% more fresh water than conventional stadium developments.
The stadium’s roof has been designed with sustainability in mind. PTFE protects the stadium from warm wind, keeps out dust and allows enough light for the pitch to grow while providing shade to reduce the burden on the stadium’s air conditioning.
Lusail Stadium is now the final remaining Qatar 2022 venue to be officially unveiled after Al Bayt Stadium and Stadium 974 in November hosted their first games during the FIFA Arab Cup.
