FIFA President Gianni Infantino was wowed by the beauty of Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor city, Qatar, which is almost due for commissioning anytime soon. The magnificent 60, 000 capacity stadium is specifically built to host the opening match of the Fifa World Cup in November 2022.
Gianni Infantino who visited the stadium for the first time since the construction of the stadium started in 2015 said he was “speechless” with the kind of infrastructure he met on the site on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.
After inspecting the incredible facility, he and the 2022 World Cup CEO Hassan Al Thawadi participated in a seven-a-side friendly game played in the beautiful Al Bayt Stadium.
The 50-year-old head of the world football governing body then met with local organizers to discuss the progress made in the preparation for the most prestigious football competition.
“It is an absolute pleasure to play football at this amazing stadium where on 21 November 2022, we will kick-off the greatest FIFA World Cup ever,” Infantino said.
“Al Bayt Stadium is incredible: a true football stadium. It has a real football feel and a local touch. The tented shape makes it truly unique, and the Arabic patterns in the roof are just beautiful. I am speechless.
“I am very pleased with Qatar’s progress ahead of the tournament. We have seen the plans, but when you see in reality, it is even more impressive. Qatar has been able to continue to advance during the last six months when the world stood still – from infrastructure preparations to important developments such as the recent labor reforms announced by the Government. If I was confident before, now I can say I am even more.
“In 2022, everything will be close by and fans from all nationalities will have the opportunity to gather in the same public areas and enjoy Qatar’s mild temperatures at this time of the year. It’s a World Cup like no other was or will ever be.”
The Al Bayt Stadium is in the final stage of construction according to a Fifa statement. When the 2022 Fifa World Cup commences, the stadium will host the opening match of the competition, the group stage matches, one quarter-final, and one semi-final games.
The magnificent stadium will be complemented by 8 other world-class stadiums of which five are still under construction while three are fully operational.
Things to know about Al Bayt Stadium:
- Al Bayt stadium’s construction contract was awarded to Salini and Cimolai in 2015.
- The stadium received sustainability certificates of green design, construction management, and energy efficiency in January 2020.
- Al Bayt stadium is built in Al Khor, a coastal city in northern Qatar, located 50 kilometers north of the capital, Doha.
- Al Bayt stadium was initially scheduled to be commissioned on Qatar’s sports day, 11 February 2020. But the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic across the world didn’t make it possible.
- The stadium will host around 60,000 World Cup fans, including 1,000 seats for the press.
- Al Bayt stadium has an asymmetrical seashell motif, providing covered seating for all spectators.
- The stadium has luxurious hotel suites and rooms with balcony views of the football field.
- The stadium parking space is big enough to accommodate 6,000 cars, 350 buses, and the coming and going of 150 public buses/shuttles, as well as 1,000 taxis and water taxis.
لمسات أخيرة تفصلنا عن انتهاء أعمال البناء في استاد البيت pic.twitter.com/BO8mAbkEHG
— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022) October 5, 2020
