With the Qatar World Cup fast-approaching, we’ve put together a guide on one of the eight host venues - Al Bayt Stadium.
This article was originally published on 22 September 2022
After winning their bid to host the Qatar World Cup, Qatar set about approving plans for several new venues for the showpiece competition, and Al Bayt Stadium fell into that category.
It’s the second largest stadium, boasting a capacity of 60,000, and will host the opening game of the World Cup when Qatar take on Ecuador on 20th November.
| What | World Cup |
| Where | Qatar |
| When | 20th November - 18th December 2022 |
| How to watch | All matches will be shown on either the BBC or ITV |
| Odds | Brazil 9/2, England 11/2, France 6/1, Argentina 7/1, Spain 8/1 |
Where is Al Bayt Stadium?
Al Bayt Stadium is based in Al Khor, a municipality in coastal north-eastern Qatar. It’s around 31 miles from the capital Doha and is the most northerly of the venues at the World Cup.
When was the Al Bayt Stadium built?
Initial plans for the Al Bayt Stadium were presented in 2014 and construction began in late 2015. The venue opened on 30th November 2021 during the second match of the Arab Cup when Qatar earned a 1-0 win over Bahrain.
Key stadium details:
| Stadium name: | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Where: | Al Khor, Qatar |
| Tenants: | Qatar national football team |
| Capacity: | 60,000 |
| Opening date: | 30th November 2021 |
What is the capacity of Al Bayt Stadium?
The capacity of Al Bayt Stadium for the 2022 World Cup will be 60,000, making it the second-largest venue. However, a record attendance of 63,439 was set for the Arab Cup fixture between Qatar and UAE in December 2021. The top tier is set to be removed after the World Cup and the capacity will be reduced to 32,000.
How big is the pitch at Al Bayt Stadium?
The dimensions of the pitch at Al Bayt Stadium are 105 x 68 metres.
Who plays at Al Bayt Stadium?
Al Bayt Stadium doesn’t have a permanent tenant at the moment, although Qatar Stars League outfit Al Khor SC are expected to move into the ground after the World Cup. The Qatar national team has used the venue on three occasions, beating Bahrain in the inaugural match before defeating Iraq and the UAE.
What World Cup 2022 matches will be played at Al Bayt Stadium?
| Date | Match number | Group | Team 1 | Team 2 | KO time | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th November | 1 | A | Qatar | v | Ecuador | 16:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 23rd November | 9 | F | Morocco | v | Croatia | 10:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 25th November | 20 | B | England | v | United States | 19:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 27th November | 28 | E | Spain | v | Germany | 19:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 29th November | 33 | A | Netherlands | v | Qatar | 15:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 1st December | 43 | E | Costa Rica | v | Germany | 19:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 4th December | 51 | Round of 16 | Winners Group B | v | Runners-up Group A | 19:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 10th December | 59 | Quarter-finals | Winners match 51 | v | Winners match 52 | 19:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 14th December | 62 | Semi-finals | Winners match 59 | v | Winners match 60 | 19:00 | Al Bayt Stadium |
What other major events have taken place at Al Bayt Stadium?
There haven’t been any major events, aside from three Arab Cup matches at Al Bayt Stadium.
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