Qatar 2022 World Cup: Lusail football stadium completed, ready to host final

The Qatar  stadium that will host the 2022 World Cup final has been completed and ready to host football matches, its project manager has told The New Arab's Arabic-language sister service.

The Lusail Iconic Stadium, the largest of Qatar's World Cup venues, will seat up to 80,000 fans, project manager Tamim El Abed told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

"The construction work has been completed, after inspecting and operating all electronic systems, information transmission systems, servers, and health and safety and fire systems," El Abed said.

"Our plan was to 100 percent complete the work by the end of the year and to be ready to host a new event in January 2022."

The stadium is in the planned, environmentally-conscious city of Lusail, around 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from Qatar's capital Doha.

The venue will host World Cup group games as well as knockout matches, including the tournament's final.

Though the stadium officially seats 80,000, another 5,000 to 6,000 fans will be able to watch the action but with an obstructed view as an advertising board or barrier may be in their way, according to El Abed.

Fans with specific access needs will be well looked after at the venue by the staff and the stadium's design, El Abed said, in compliance with FIFA and international guidelines.

"Their requirements, their journey and their experience in the stadium have been studied since the beginning of the design," he said.

"They are among the most important groups, and we will take care of them from the moment they arrive in their car parks until the moment they enter the stadium and sit on their seats - including their movements around the stadium."

𝐀 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥! 🏆 🇩🇿#FIFArabCup #LetItFly with #QatarAirways @QatarAirways pic.twitter.com/CMIP16LriH

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 19, 2021

The stadium has multiple transport links, El Abed said, including the Lusail North stop on the red metro line and the Al-Khor Coastal Road.

There is also a plan to bus spectators to matches from car parks close to the venue.

The stadium's design draws on the Arab fanar lantern, combining light and dark.

It will be turned into a community zone for Lusail city after the World Cup.

Health centres, cafés, schools and sports provision will be built at the stadium.

To make room for these amenities, the majority of the 80,000 seats are to be taken out and given to sports schemes.

Lusail city will be home to 200,000 people.