Al Bayt Stadium to Host Opening Match of FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar

The opening match of the much-anticipated FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar will take place at the sensational Al Bayt Stadium. With a capacity of 60,000 this uniquely designed facility is one of eight such stadiums that have been built or converted specifically for the World Cup.

The design of Al Bayt stadium follows suit with the seven others in being unique and also eco-friendly. The stadium features a retractable roof and, as with its fellow facilities, will be cooled using solar energy. Qatar is keen to be portrayed as a country with a firm hold on green issues, and the stadium has been fully certified as having zero carbon footprint. 

With the hosts playing in the opening match this is a game that will go down in history as not only the first World Cup match in an Arab country, but also the first to be played in November. With tickets expected to sell out, the curious design – inspired by the traditional tents of local nomadic people – will certainly become familiar around the world. 

As with the other World Cup stadiums Al Bayt Stadium is expected to be reconfigured after the FIFA 2022 World Cup has finished. It will be reduced to a 32,000-seat stadium with other areas being converted into a luxury hotel and shopping mall. 

The first game featuring Qatar against a team drawn from their group will take place on November 21st, 2022.