The stunning Al Bayt Stadium – which will host the first match of next year’s FIFA World Cup was unveiled by Qatar on the opening day of the FIFA Arab Cup. The 60,000-capacity venue designed to resemble the tents historically used by nomadic people in the Gulf region hosted Qatar’s 1-0 victory against Bahrain as the 16-team tournament got off to an exciting start.
The inauguration of Al Bayt was attended by the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, who officially announced the start of the tournament.
Straight after Al Bayt’s inauguration, Stadium 974 also hosted its first game. The 40,000-capacity venue, made primarily from shipping containers, staged the United Arab Emirates’ 2-1 victory against Syria. Stadium 974 is the first fully demountable stadium in FIFA World Cup history and was named after the number of shipping containers used in its development and Qatar’s international dialling code. Elsewhere on the opening day, Tunisia defeated Mauritania 5-1 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, while Iraq and Oman drew 1-1 at Al Janoub Stadium.
Located in the northern city of Al Khor, Al Bayt will host nine matches during next year’s FIFA World Cup, including the tournament opener on November 21. During the FIFA Arab Cup, Al Bayt will host five matches, including the final on December 18.
Stadium 974, meanwhile, is located in Ras Abu Aboud, only 4km from Hamad International Airport. The stadium boasts stunning views of the West Bay skyline and will host seven matches up to the round of 16 stage during Qatar 2022. Stadium 974 will host six matches during the FIFA Arab Cup, including the third-place play-off.
