DOHA: Education City Stadium is now ready to host its first official match. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadium will welcome QNB Stars League (QSL) sides Al Sadd SC and Al Kharaitiyat SC for the 2020-2021 season opener on 3 September at 6.15 pm on Thursday. .
Dubbed the ‘Diamond in the Desert’, Education City Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 spectators and is set to host matches up to and including the quarter-finals stage during FIFA World Cup 2022.
The stadium is located in the heart of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development and surrounded by leading universities, educational institutions and recreational facilities.
Once the FIFA World Cup is over, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced by half, with 20,000 seats used as part of legacy programmes that will support the creation of sports facilities in developing countries around the world.
Five-star design and build rating
Education City Stadium was the first tournament venue to achieve a five-star design and build rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), and as with all FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums, advanced cooling technologies ensure comfortable temperatures year-round for players and fans.
Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said: “Seeing the gradual, safe return of fans to stadiums around the world is a true testament to our resilience as societies and to the great work that was carried out by frontline healthcare workers in Qatar and beyond. We are really excited to mark the return to football in Qatar at our newest stadium and give fans and players a taste of what to look forward to in 2022 and beyond.”
Nasser Al Khater, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 CEO said: “The digital launch of Education City Stadium in June, marking the readiness of the third FIFA World Cup venue after Al Janoub and Khalifa International Stadiums, was a major tournament milestone which was delivered under exceptionally challenging circumstances, and set the standard for the innovative nature of Qatar 2022.”