Qatar's Al Wakrah Stadium Becomes First '22 World Cup Venue To Break Ground

Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy has "broken ground on the first proposed host venue to be delivered" ahead of the 2022 World Cup, according to the GULF TIMES. The second phase of construction is "underway on-site at Al Wakrah, with HBK contracting company carrying out the works." HBK has begun "major excavation in preparation of the foundations being laid in September." This latest phase of construction is scheduled to finish around March '15, with "stadium completion expected" in '18. The 40,000-seater Al Wakrah Stadium, "future home of Al Wakrah Sports Club, was the first of Qatar's FIFA World Cup proposed host venues to be revealed." The stadium will be surrounded by a 560,000 square meter precinct with a "new sports centre and community hub." The precinct will include a "range of community facilities, including a park, a mosque, a school, a hotel, a wedding hall, a vocational training centre and retail outlets" (GULF TIMES, 5/20).