Qatar's World Cup final stadium to host first match

The Lusail Stadium, the venue of the 2022 World Cup final, will host its first match on 11 August.

1 min read

19 July, 2022

Lusail Stadium will host a match between Al Rayyan and Al Arabi in the Qatar Stars League [Getty]

The first official match at the Lusail Stadium that is to host this year's World Cup final will be held next month, Qatar's national federation said Tuesday.

Al Rayyan and Al Arabi will dispute a Qatar Stars League game in the 80,000 capacity stadium on August 11.

Lusail is the biggest of the eight stadiums built or refurbished for the World Cup and will host the final on 18 December.

🗓️Mark your calendars for 11 August!

⚽ The iconic Lusail Stadium will host its first football match between al Arabi and Al Rayyan for the QNB Stars League.

🏟 The 80,000 capacity seat stadium will host the World Cup final later this year. pic.twitter.com/R7KV3otzG6
— Doha News (@dohanews) July 19, 2022

A spokesperson for Qatar's World Cup organisers said the match would be a "test event" and that an official inauguration would be held later.

Lusail, whose futuristic design was inspired by the decoration on Arab bowls, will stage 10 World Cup matches in all, including several group matches, a quarter-final and semi-final as well as the final.

After the tournament, the capacity is expected to be halved and much of the stadium space turned into community space.