World Cup centrepiece stadium unveiled

The design for the Lusail Stadium, the venue at which the opening and final games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place, has been revealed by officials in Qatar.

The 80,000-capacity venue will be located 15km north of central Doha. The stadium will form the centrepiece of Lusail City, the construction of which is about 90% complete, according to the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body tasked with getting Qatar ready to host the World Cup.

The stadium, designed by UK-based firm Foster + Partners, is said to take inspiration from Arab architecture and the region’s tradition of craftsmanship.

The construction is being delivered by a joint venture between Qatari-based firm HBK Contracting Company and China Railway Construction Corporation. Construction of the stadium is set to be completed in 2020.

After the completion of the World Cup, the stadium will be transformed into a multi-purpose community hub.

It is estimated that the total cost of building the stadiums for the event will be approximately US$7 billion.

Image courtesy of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.