Al-Bayt Stadium (Arabic: استاد البيت, romanized: ʾIstād al-Bayt, lit. 'The House Stadium')[2][3] is a retractable roof football stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, which was opened in time for matches in the 2022 FIFA World Cup,[4] which began on 20 November 2022.[5] The stadium is located 35 km away from Doha, which made it the furthest stadium from the capital that was used in the World Cup.[5][6] The stadium's construction contract was awarded to Qatari contractor Galfar Al Misnad,[7] Webuild S.p.A. and Cimolai in 2015.[8]
 Interior view in 2022, looking northeast | |
 | |
| Full name | Al-Bayt Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Khor, Qatar |
| Coordinates | 25°39′08″N 51°29′15″E / 25.65222°N 51.48750°E |
| Capacity | 68,895[1] |
| Record attendance | 68,895 (Spain vs Germany, 27 November 2022) and (England vs France, 10 December 2022) |
| Field size | 105x68 meters |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2014 |
| Opened | November 30, 2021 |
| Architect | gmp Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner |
| Main contractors | Galfar Al Misnad, Webuild S.p.A., Cimolai |
| Tenants | |
| Al-Khor SC (2022–present) Qatar national football team (selected matches) | |
Plans
Al Bayt Stadium hosted the opening match of the 2022 World Cup, and hosted a semi-final and a quarter-final match.[9][10] The stadium hosted around 60,000 World Cup fans (71.000 gross capacity),[11] including 1,000 seats for press. The architectural design takes its inspiration from the traditional tents of the nomadic peoples of Qatar and the region.[12] It features a retractable roof, providing covered seating for all spectators. It connects to transportation systems and have onsite parking for 6,000 cars, 350 buses and the coming and going of 150 public buses/shuttles, as well as 1,000 taxis and water taxis. The stadium is certified for its sustainability credentials under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) for a number of certifications representing sustainable design & build, construction management practices and the efficiency of its energy centre. The stadium also received a five-star GSAS rating.[12]
The stadium also includes luxurious hotel suites and rooms with balcony views of the football field.[11]
To mark the National Sports Day, stadium's adjacent park's official opening was announced to be held on Qatar's sports day itself, 11 February 2020.[13]
Construction
The Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar was one of eight stadiums used in the 2022 FIFA World Cup,[14] the second largest after Lusail Stadium.[15] The stadium was designed by Dar Al-Handasah.[16] Following the World Cup, it is expected to be reconfigured into a 32,000-seat stadium. Excess seats will be removed from the upper tier and donated to other countries or placed on the infrastructure planned for the 2030 Asian Games.[17] The vacated space will then be converted into a five-star hotel, shopping mall and another sports facilities.[18][19]
The tent-like structure has four stands, each of whose exterior walls and peaked roofs are covered in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) woven fibreglass membrane. The exterior part of the PTFE membrane is coloured in traditional black, white and red colours to further reference Qatar's nomadic people's tents. A retractable roof connects the four stands to enclose the stadium.[20] In January 2020, the stadium received sustainability certificates of green design, construction management and energy efficiency.[21]
History
The inauguration of the stadium took place on 30 November 2021, on the occasion of opening ceremony for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, followed by a match between the host Qatar and Bahrain, in which the reigning Asian champion Qatar survived a last-minute scare to fend off the visitor 1–0, courtesy of a header from Abdulaziz Hatem in the 69th minute.[22]
This event was attended by the Emir (head of state) of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, several Heads of State and authorities and Presidents from member associations to enjoy the inauguration ceremony of Al Bayt Stadium and to mark the official opening of the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.[23] The newly built stadium hosted five matches during FIFA Arab Cup 2021, including the final of the tournament on 18 December 2021.[24][25]
On 20 November 2022, the stadium hosted the opening game of the FIFA World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador; 67,372 were reported to be in attendance at kick-off, despite the capacity of the stadium being 60,000.[26][27]
Recent tournament results
2021 FIFA Arab Cup
The Al Bayt Stadium hosted five matches during the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, including the final.
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 November 2021 | 19:30 |  Qatar | 1–0 |  Bahrain | Group A | 47,813 |
| 3 December 2021 | 22:00 |  Syria | 2–0 |  Tunisia | Group B | 15,913 |
| 6 December 2021 | 22:00 | Qatar | 3–0 |  Iraq | Group A | 23,008 |
| 10 December 2021 | 22:00 | Qatar | 5–0 |  United Arab Emirates | Quarter-finals | 63,439 |
| 18 December 2021 | 18:00 | Tunisia | 0–2 (a.e.t.) |  Algeria | Final | 60,456 |
2022 FIFA World Cup
The Al Bayt Stadium hosted nine matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including the opening match.
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 November 2022 | 19:00 | Qatar | 0–2 |  Ecuador | Group A (opening match) | 67,372 |
| 23 November 2022 | 13:00 |  Morocco | 0–0 |  Croatia | Group F | 59,407 |
| 25 November 2022 | 22:00 |  England | 0–0 |  United States | Group B | 68,463 |
| 27 November 2022 | 22:00 |  Spain | 1–1 |  Germany | Group E | 68,895 |
| 29 November 2022 | 18:00 |  Netherlands | 2–0 | Qatar | Group A | 66,784 |
| 1 December 2022 | 22:00 |  Costa Rica | 2–4 | Germany | Group E | 67,054 |
| 4 December 2022 | 22:00 | England | 3–0 |  Senegal | Round of 16 | 65,985 |
| 10 December 2022 | 22:00 | England | 1–2 |  France | Quarter-finals | 68,895 |
| 14 December 2022 | 22:00 | France | 2–0 | Morocco | Semi-finals | 68,294 |
2023 AFC Asian Cup
On 5 April 2023, the Al Bayt Stadium was chosen as one of eight (then nine) venues for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[28] It hosted four matches during the tournament.
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 January 2024 | 17:30 |  Tajikistan | 0–1 | Qatar | Group A | 57,460 |
| 23 January 2024 | 14:30 | Syria | 1–0 |  India | Group B | 42,787 |
| 29 January 2024 | 19:00 | Qatar | 2–1 |  Palestine | Round of 16 | 63,753 |
| 3 February 2024 | 18:30 | Qatar | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–2 p) |  Uzbekistan | Quarter-finals | 58,791 |
See also
References
External links
