Education City Stadium – tournament stadium description

How was Education City Stadium built?

The decision to build the arena was taken in the aftermath of the World Cup. The stadium was built between 2016 and 2020 in the eastern suburbs of Doha, in the so-called Education City, bringing together branches of renowned foreign universities. A metro station is located near the stadium. The facility has already hosted matches of the Club World Cup and the Arab Nations Cup, among others.

What are the characteristics of Education City Stadium?

The facility has a football-specific layout, with three-tier stands surrounding the pitch on all sides, capable of holding 44,667 spectators. The first row of the auditorium is elevated, providing a better view. The seats in the stands are coloured green or white. LED screens have been placed in two corners. The venue, like most of the Qatar World Cup arenas, is equipped with a cooling system.

The auditorium is fully covered by a roof, under which floodlights have been installed. Outside, the canopy connects to the façade, with which it forms a single unit, covered with metallic, rhombus-shaped panels. The colour of the panels changes depending on the angle of the sunlight, and at night the building can be illuminated. The façade is also equipped with solar panels.

The building's closed, granular shape and triangular design is meant to evoke a diamond (this is the stadium's leitmotif, which is also known as the 'Desert Diamond') and to refer to the rich design of Arabian architecture. The enclosed volume also allows better thermal control of the interior, and the stadium's burial slightly below ground level also has a positive effect on thermal insulation.

How will Education City Stadium be used?

During the 2022 World Cup, the venue will host six group stage matches, one round of 16 and one quarter-final games. The creation of the stadium was closely linked to the World Cup, but after the tournament the facility is to be retained and will primarily serve students from the surrounding universities. After the tournament, the upper level of the stands is to be dismantled.

What matches will take place at Education City Stadium during the 2022 World Cup?

How Education City Stadium compares to other World Cup 2022 venues?