Qatar's Khalifa International To be Renovated For 2022 FIFA World Cup

The Supreme Committee of Delivery & Legacy(SCDL), the organizing body of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, has revealed the design for the third stadium. The plan includes renovation of the 40-year-old Khalifa International Stadium, which will be enlarged to accommodate a total of 40,000 spectators. Additionally, the structure will feature an advanced cooling system that will keep the temperature inside the stadium to an agreeable 26 degrees Celsius.

For the first time in history, the top football tournament will be conducted in the Middle East. With as many as 32 participating nations, the event will host 64 games, all of which will be held at eight different venues. As of yet, the SCDL has confirmed seven locations as well as designs for Al Wakrah and Al Bayt stadiums. Both these venues will likely be completed by 2018. Plans regarding the remaining arenas, including the fourth one in Education City, will be unveiled in December.

One of the oldest stadiums in Qatar, Khalifa International was constructed back in 1976 and later refurbished in 2006 for the Asian Games. Over the years, it has hosted a number of sporting events, including the Asian Cup in 1988 and 2011, and the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship. The renovation works, funded by a joint venture between a local company Midmac and Belgium-based BESIX, are already underway and will be over by 2016, making Khalifa International the first of Qatar’s World Cup stadiums. The 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships will also be held at this arena.

The project, supervised by Dar Al Handasah and Projacs, will include the construction of an east wing as well as the expansion of the total seating capacity to 40,000. The new building will house an assortment of VIP lounges, food courts, multi-functional rooms, shops and also a health center. The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, possessing historic collections and relics related to sports, will also be located in the east wing. Keeping the original metal arcs of the stadium intact, the team will build a beautifully curving roof in order to provide a shade above the seating area.

Furthermore, the stadium will feature an innovative cooling system complete with huge chillers, to make sure that the indoor temperature remains at an agreeable 26°C ( 78°F), at all times. According to SCDL, the technology has already been tested on an actual football field. Parking space for 6,000 cars and 2,300 buses will also be available in the area adjoining the stadium. All the stadiums will be connected to each other via excellent transport and road networks, making it incredibly easy for the fans to reach the venues.

The Khalifa International is expected to acquire the GSAS 4 Star and LEED Gold certifications. Talking about the project, Saudi Arabia’s General President of Youth Welfare, Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ed bin Abdul Aziz said:

We are proud to announce from our country the new design for the third proposed World Cup host venue. As host of the tournament, Qatar will be able to bring the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time. We in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia stand by Qatar and firmly support its right to host this event, as it is a remarkable success for all of us. I am confident that Qatar will deliver an exceptional tournament, introducing our culture and traditions to the world and promoting football and sports across the Gulf and the whole region.