World Cup: Stadium Guide - Stadium 974

bet365 News Team Updated: Oct 05 2023 10:33 Published: Sep 23 2022 12:01

Stadium 974 is one of the new stadiums built for the World Cup in Qatar and it is arguably the most unique.

The ground has been constructed from recycled shipping containers and is seen as a blueprint for future projects.

In fact, it will be taken down after the tournament, with part of its design aimed at its sustainability. Many of its parts will be repurposed, with its waterfront location set to be redeveloped into hospitality and commercial units, making it the first temporary stadium in World Cup history.

The number 974 is synonymous with both the ground and Qatar. 974 is the number of shipping containers used to construct the stadium, while it is also the international dialling code for the country.

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 Stadium 974?

Stadium 974 is situated in Ras Abu Aboud, around 10km east of central Doha.

It was previously named the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium before taking on its current moniker in tribute to its design.

The ground is situated down by Doha’s waterfront on the Arabian Gulf and provides views of the city’s skyline.

When was Stadium 974 built?

Construction of Stadium 974 started in 2018.

When was Stadium 974 opened?

Stadium 974 was officially opened on 30th November 2021 and the first match to be played at the venue took place on the same day, as the United Arab Emirates faced Syria in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.

UAE forward Caio Canedo had the honour of scoring the first goal at the ground, as his side went on to beat Syria 2-1 in the Group B contest.

Key stadium details:

Stadium name:	Khalifa International Stadium
Where:	Al Rayyan
Tenants:	Qatar national football team
Capacity:	40,000
Opening date:	May 2017

What is the capacity of Stadium 974?

Stadium 974 is one of the smallest venues being used at the World Cup, as alongside the Al Janoub Stadium and the Al Thumama Stadium it has a capacity of 40,000.

The stadium will be dismantled following the conclusion of the World Cup, making it the first temporary venue to be used in the tournament’s history.

How big is the pitch at Stadium 974?

The dimensions of the pitch at Stadium 974 are 105 x 68 metres.

Who plays at Stadium 974?

With the ground being dismantled following the conclusion of the World Cup, there are no regular tenants at Stadium 974.

However, the likes of Qatar, Tunisia, Egypt and the UAE have also previously contested matches at the venue.

What World Cup matches will be played at Stadium 974?

Date	Match number	Group	Team 1		Team 2	KO time	Venue
22nd November	7	C	.Mexico	v	Poland	19:00	Stadium 974
24th November	15	H	Portugal	v	Ghana	19:00	Stadium 974
26th November	23	D	France	v	Denmark	19:00	Stadium 974
28th November	31	G	Brazil	v	Switzerland	19:00	Stadium 974
30th November	39	C	Poland	v	Argentina	22:00	Stadium 974
2nd December	47	G	Serbia	v	Switzerland	22:00	Stadium 974
5th December	54	Round of 16	Winners Group G	v	Runners-up Group H	22:00	Stadium 974

What other major events have taken place at Stadium 974?

The 2021 FIFA Arab Cup is the only other major event to have been staged at Stadium 974, with a total of six matches having been played at the ground during that tournament.

UAE’s 2-1 victory over Syria on 30th November was the first match to be held at Stadium 974 and was one of four group stage fixtures contested there.

The semi-final showdown between Tunisia and Egypt was also held at the ground, as was the third-place playoff that again involved Egypt as well as hosts Qatar.