Officials in Qatar revealed the design for Lusail Stadium, the venue at which the opening and final games of the 2022 World Cup will take place, according to AL JAZEERA. The 80,000-capacity venue will be the largest stadium of the tournament, which will kick off on November 21, 2022, and "be the first to take place in the Arab world." Located 15km north of central Doha, the stadium will "form the centrepiece of Lusail City," the construction of which is about 90% completed, according to the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC). Designed by British firm Foster + Partners, the venue's golden facade "takes its inspiration from Arab architecture and the region's tradition of craftsmanship." Construction of the stadium, which is being delivered by a joint venture of Qatari fim HBK Contracting Company and China Railway Construction Corp., is "well under way." Construction is set to be completed in '20. The venue is the eighth stadium design unveiled by the SC. After the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Lusail Stadium will be "transformed into a community space, including schools, shops, cafes, sports facilities and health clinics," the SC said. To make way for these amenities, many of the stadium's modular seats "will be removed and donated to sporting projects around the world" (AL JAZEERA, 12/16).
