Qatar Reduces Number Of 2022 World Cup Stadiums To Eight As Costs Rise

Qatar "reduced the number of stadiums it plans to build" for the 2022 World Cup by a third amid "rising costs and delays," according to Fattah & Tuttle of BLOOMBERG. The country plans to "build eight stadiums for the games." Qatar "originally announced plans for 12 stadiums, including nine new playing fields and three refurbishments." It plans to spend more than $200B on "new infrastructure before hosting the sporting event," including $34B on a rail and metro system, $7B on a port and $17B on an airport. The stadiums will cost $4B. In addition to the stadiums, "92 training sites will be constructed" (BLOOMBERG, 4/21). REUTERS' Amena Bakr reported Qatar "does not appear to face difficulty in funding its tens of billions of dollars worth of projects." Scaling back some of the construction, though, could "reduce waste and ensure that key projects were delivered on schedule" (REUTERS, 4/21).