The eight stadiums that will take place the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are primed and ready. They are striking to say the least.
One of the stadiums is made from shipping containers, while another is intended to resemble traditional Middle Eastern headgear.
Though they have a striking design, the eight venues – the fewest since the 1978 World Cup with 16 teams in Argentina – are a logistical relief for fans who are arguably the Most Controversial World Cup ever.
In fact, the eight stadiums are all located within a 34-mile radius of downtown Doha and will be connected by a metro and tram system, making it possible to watch more than one match on the same day.
Some grounds are powered by solar farms and equipped with cooling systems to combat the heat, while others have air conditioning outside. And when the tournament is said and done a few days before Christmas, only one stadium will be home to a football team: the Khalidia International Stadium. The others will either be completely dismantled (in the cast of Stadium 974) or reduced in capacity and repurposed as hotels, communal areas or smaller sports facilities.
In how many stadiums will the event take place?
Eight stadiums can accommodate the 32 teams of the opening game on November 20 until the final on December 18.
The tournament kicks off at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, while the finalists head to Doha a month later to play at Lusail Stadium.
Iconic Stadium of Lusail
Capacity: 80,000