One year before the World Cup kicks off, Qatar has opened its seventh venue for the football extravaganza with the official launch of the Stadium 974.
This will be the first ever dismountable stadium in World Cup history. It has been built using 974 freight containers. The number ‘974’ also denotes Qatar’s telephone code.
The venue, formerly known as Ras Abu Aboud is located close to Doha Port, directly opposite the spectacular West Bay skyline.
The stadium will host its first match on 30 November when the United Arab Emirates and Syria face off on the opening day of the FIFA Arab Cup.
The facility will host seven matches up to the round of 16 stage during Qatar 2022. During the FIFA Arab Cup, which will take place from 30 November to 18 December, the 40,000-capacity stadium will host six matches, including the first semi-final and third-place play-off.
Stadium 974 is the seventh tournament venue to be completed by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and follows Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Education City, Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Bayt and Al Thumama in being declared ready to host matches during the FIFA World Cup 2022™, which will kick off on 21 November next year.
Due to its innovative design, the Stadium 974 bowl avoids the need for air conditioning as it is naturally ventilated.
Much of the stadium’s structure is made from recycled steel, while water efficiency methods ensure it will reduce water use by 40% compared to a conventional stadium development.