Qatar 2022 Series, Part II: World Cup Stadiums

By: Ehsaan Mesghali

The small Gulf country of Qatar has made big news by being selected to host the 2022 World Cup. The maverick FIFA (governing body of soccer) board has made risky decisions before by choosing a united post-apartheid South Africa over other perhaps more qualified bids for 2010. It is the hard work of the ruling Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, who swayed the opinions of the voting committee for 2022. Many argue that FIFA hopes to introduce the world to a friendly and hospitable version of the notoriously unstable Middle East. It’s no doubt that the words of Sheikha Mozah shook the hearts and minds of the committee with her opening presentation, asking a simple question, “When? When do you think is the right time for the World Cup to come to the Middle East? And do you recognize how important this is to our region and to our world?” Later in her speech she confirmed FIFA’s underlying goals and ambitions stating, “…your decisions have always illustrated that your mandate is not only to improve the game we all love, but to bring the entire world closer together through football.”

Currently Qatar is hosting the AFC Asia Cup therefore the logistical backbone required for organizing an international sporting event is already active. Despite Qatar’s proven capability, many agree with the English Football Association’s statement that a Qatari World Cup is none other than a “logistical nightmare” or perhaps they’re simply bitter that Russia beat them to the 2018 world cup.

The stadium designs, although entirely preliminary and subject to change, are over the top in pure Gulf-fashion. Qatari developers have presumably devised an open air-cooling system that can maintain a comfortable temperature inside and around the stadium using solar energy. There is no argument that Sir Foster’s Lusail Stadium is the undisputed icon of the games, but the entire collection is simply jaw-dropping. Some of my favorites include: Al-Wakrah Stadium, Al-Shamal Stadium and the Al-Rayyan Stadium. But by far the main attraction is: The Lusail Iconic Stadium.

Distinguished as the main event stadium and designed by Sir Norman Foster himself, one of the most distinguished architects of our time, the Lusail Iconic Stadium is nothing short of that, iconic. With a capacity nearing 90,000 fans, it will by Word Cup tradition, host the opening and final matches of the event. Unlike other stadiums designed for the event, the Lusail will be built in a permanent fashion and used for other sporting and cultural events long after the World Cup is finished.

The venue will be built specifically for the extreme summer conditions around the capital city of Doha, where the canopies covering the surrounding parking lots continuously generate solar power. The general shape has been described as a saddle-shaped roof that appears to float above the concrete seating bowl, supported by a ring of arching columns. Encircled by a reflective pool of water, spectators naturally cross into the building via bridges, six in all, while the seating that awaits them has been designed in a way to provide optimum views for all spectators.

From above, the stadium has a near-circular footprint and sits on the site’s primary axis, which divides the stadium into two halves. An outer pedestrian ring extends from the moat towards a collection of support buildings and a new hotel at the site’s perimeter. The architects also mention that the stadium will be accessed by an entirely brand new metro and road system. There is no shortage of technology in this stadium as the central section can supposedly be retracted to allow the pitch to be either open to the sky or fully covered. It has been stated that the stadium gained inspiration from the Dhow boats known to linger on the shores of Qatar, specifically the concave profile of the stadium’s outer enclosure lined with shading louvers from floor to ceiling.

The most exciting element about the whole bid from an architectural standpoint in my opinion has nothing to do with the particular designs, rather the social responsibility that was exhibited by the designers and the bid organizers. Four years ago the bids for the World cup never highlighted issues like renewable energy, efficient mass transit, or even the relocation of stadiums to more disadvantaged parts of the world.

Qatar is not only helping to change the reputation of the Arab world by hosting the World Cup, it also gets a chance to reveal the innovation and skill available from the region

All Images Courtesy of Qatar 2022

For more of Ehsaan’s work click: Research and Personal