The al-Thumama Stadium is located in Doha, the capital of Qatar, and is the venue for the 2022 World Cup . The 40,000-seat stadium is one of six new constructions among the World Cup stadiums and is reminiscent of the traditional Arab Gahfiya hat and thus the entire country. At the 2022 World Cup, six group stage matches, one round of 16 and one quarter-final will be played at al-Thumama Stadium.

The infrastructure around the World Cup stadium is excellent due to the central location of the stadium (12 km from downtown Doha). After Qatar 2022, the arena will be decommissioned from 40,000 to 20,000 spectators and will also include a sports clinic and hotel. It is the second World Cup stadium in the Qatari capital, Doha, next to Ras Abu Aboud Stadium.

Data and facts about al-Thumama Stadium

• 🏟️ Capacity : 40,000 seats.
• 🏗️ Completion: scheduled for 2020.
• 👷🏽 Architects: Ibrahim M. Jaidah.

World Cup games at al-Thumama Stadium in Doha.

al-Thumama Stadium – World Cup Stadium in Doha

Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha is one of four stadiums in which the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals will be played . In addition, six matches of the group stage and one of the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup will be played at the stadium in the Qatari capital . A total of 40,000 spectators will be able to attend each of the games.

After the World Cup in the Persian Gulf, the al-Thumama Stadium will be dismantled. Subsequently, with 20,000 spectators, it should only have half the capacity and be the location of a sports clinic and a hotel. The stadium, designed by Ibrahim M. Jaidah, is completely round.

Special Arabic ornaments can be seen on the shell of the building, reminiscent of the traditional Gahfiya headdress. Due to the short distance to downtown Doha and Hamad International Airport, al-Thumama Stadium is easily accessible to the public.

Cooling system ensures year-round use

Despite the subsequent holding of the World Cup in winter 2022, temperatures in Qatar remain very high. To make the World Cup games reasonable in the small country on the Arabian Peninsula, cooling systems were installed in the al-Thumama Stadium, as well as in other stadiums built for the event. These are used to cool the entire stadium to bearable temperatures, around 24 to 28 degrees, for players and spectators.

Only air conditioning technologies in the stadiums allow Qatar 2022 to be reasonably held. Without this, neither the players nor the fans could withstand the high temperatures in the upper tier from November to December 2022.

Al-Thumama Stadium is definitely a real eye-catcher, both outside and inside. The circular stadium definitely does justice to a world championship football event through its design and its barrier-free accessibility. Inside, the proximity to the playing field and the curved upper level are convincing. Outside, the impressive façade and roof pattern are truly eye-catching.

Is al-Thumama Stadium sustainable?

The al-Thumama Stadium in Doha is one of six new buildings for the 2022 World Cup. As with other stadiums, the open-air stadium will be equipped with cooling technology. The energy for cooling the stadium should come mainly from renewable energies. Parts of the dismantling of the stadium after the World Cup will be donated to regions and countries with poor infrastructure.

Is that enough to be called a sustainable stadium and justify the high expense? There are divided opinions on this. The positive is, of course, that the al-Thumama Stadium will also be used after the World Cup and that the construction of the stadium is a long-term investment. However, the waste of energy and poor working conditions in Qatar are two major criticisms that certainly cannot be called sustainable.

Source images: FIFA.