Foster + Partners to design Qatar’s World Cup opening and closing stadium

A team led by Foster + Partners is to design the Lusail Stadium (pictured), which will host the opening and closing games of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

The 80,000-seat stadium will be based in the new city of Lusail, 15 km north of Doha, in western Qatar. The designers aim to use green technologies to keep players and spectators at a relatively cool 26°C. 

Foster + Partners will work with specialist sports venue design firm Populous and Arup. 

Norman Foster said: "This is an exciting step forward in stadium design, it will be the first to break the mould of the free-standing suburban concept, and instead anticipates the grid of this future city, of which it will be an integral part. 

"The project also pioneers the idea of an ongoing life for the stadium beyond the big event. The environmental strategies, particularly those that address the players as well as the spectators, will also be of international interest to the sporting public as well as those concerned with the architecture."

Artists impression of Qatar’s Lusail Stadium

Hassan Al Thawadi, Qatar’s delivery and legacy committee secretary general, said: "We look forward to working with them in creating an iconic, contemporary stadium inspired by Qatari culture.  

"Lusail Stadium will be the centrepiece of the tournament, an architecturally innovative stadium which maintains sporting functionality and delivers on our sustainability commitments." 

FIFA are set to vote on March 19th on whether to host the tournament in November and December to avoid the summer heat.