Al Janoub Stadium
ملعب الجنوب | |
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| Full name | Al Janoub Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Wakrah, Qatar |
| Coordinates | 25°09′35.2″N 51°34′26.7″E / 25.159778°N 51.574083°E |
| Owner | Qatar Football Association |
| Capacity | 40,000[1][2] |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2014 |
| Built | 2014–2019 |
| Opened | 16 May 2019[1] |
| Architect | Zaha Hadid |
| Main contractors | Midmac Contracting Co.
Six Construct Qatar Porr Qatar Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Al-Wakrah Sports Club Qatar national football team | |
Al-Janoub Stadium (Arabic: استاد الجنوب[romanization needed]), formerly known as Al-Wakrah Stadium (Arabic: ملعب الجنوب), is a retractable roof football stadium in Al-Wakrah, Qatar that was inaugurated on 16 May 2019. This is the second among the eight stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, after the renovation of Khalifa International Stadium.[3] It was designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid together with the firm AECOM.[4]
The stadium features a curvilinear postmodernist and neo-futurist design. The appearance of the roof was inspired by the sails of traditional Dhow boats, used by pearl divers from the region, weaving through currents of the Persian Gulf.[5]
It will be the official seat of the football club Al-Wakrah SC, where matches for the Qatar Stars League will be held. The capacity of the stadium is 40,000, which is expected to reduce in half to 20,000 after the World Cup.[6]
History
Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010. It would become the first Muslim-majority country and the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup.[7] Qatar previously did not have the sporting capability for the Cup, and as such 8 new stadiums are expected to be built to prepare for the Cup.[8]
The stadium was inaugurated on 16 May 2019, during the Amir Cup final between Al Sadd SC and Al-Duhail SC played in front of an audience of 38,678 people, making it the second stadium to be completed after Al Khalifa International Stadium.[9] This match was attended by the Emir (head of state) of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.[10][11]
In December 2020, Al Janoub Stadium hosted the 2020 AFC Champions League Final.[12]
The stadium hosted six matches during FIFA Arab Cup 2021.[13]
Design
The stadium was designed by the architect Zaha Hadid, and her architectural firm, Zaha Hadid Architects.[14] Zaha Hadid Architects stated that “The stadium was designed in conjunction with a new precinct so that it sits at the heart of an urban extension of the city, creating community-based activities in and around the stadium on non-event days.”[15]
According to the designers, it was inspired by the sails of traditional Dhow boats, used by pearl divers from the region, weaving through currents of the Persian Gulf.[5][16] The curvilinear roof and exterior references Al Wakrah's history of seafaring, additionally giving spectators the feeling on being on a ship.[17] Bowed beams hold up the roof, resembling a ship's hull.[18] The building is meant to resemble upturned dhow hulls arranged in a huddle to provide shade and shelter. The roof of the stadium is retractable, and is made from pleated PTFE fabric and cables, with the roof arches being 230 meters long.[19]
The cooling system prevents the stadium's users from overheating, due to Qatar's hot and arid climate. It is capable of cooling the spectator areas to 18°C and the field of play to 20°C.[20] According to Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), "detailed micro-climate analysis informed the arena's shape, with aerodynamics and optimal shading from the roof, which incorporates a minimal amount of glass, making a significant contribution to temperature control."[18]
Facilities
The sports complex includes a multipurpose room, with swimming pools and spas and a shopping center with green roofs. The entrance to the stadium will be on a wooded square.
A school, wedding hall, cycling, horse riding and running tracks, restaurants, marketplaces and gyms within the vicinity are planned to be built to accompany Al Janoub Stadium.[21]
Proposed renovations
After the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Al Janoub Stadium will become the Al-Wakrah Sports Club’s home, instead of the current Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium after reducing the seating capacity to half, from 40,000 to 20,000 and will be used for Qatar Stars League matches.[6] Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy has claimed that the remaining half of the stadium's seats will be donated to developing countries in need of sporting infrastructure.[22][23]
2022 FIFA World Cup
Al Janoub Stadium will host seven matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 November 2022 | 22:00 |  France |
– |  United Arab Emirates,  Australia, or  Peru |
Group D | |
| 24 November 2022 | 13:00 |  Switzerland |
– |  Cameroon |
Group G | |
| 26 November 2022 | 13:00 |  Tunisia |
– | United Arab Emirates, Australia, or Peru |
Group D | |
| 28 November 2022 | 13:00 | Cameroon |
– |  Serbia |
Group G | |
| 30 November 2022 | 18:00 | United Arab Emirates, Australia, or Peru |
– |  Denmark |
Group D | |
| 2 December 2022 | 18:00 |  Ghana |
– |  Uruguay |
Group H | |
| 5 December 2022 | 18:00 | Winners Group E | – | Runners-up Group F | Round of 16 |
References
- ^ a b "The New Al Wakrah Stadium". qataramerica.org. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Al Wakrah Stadium". sc.qa. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Amir inaugurates Al Janoub Stadium". thepeninsulaqatar.com. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Al Janoub Stadium". zaha-hadid.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Al Wakrah Stadium Design". sc.qa. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Al Janoub Stadium / Zaha Hadid Architects". ArchDaily. 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
- ^ "Qatar wins 2022 World Cup bid". theguardian.com. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Fifa urged to press Qatar on conditions for World Cup stadium workers". theguardian.com. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Al Janoub stadium: a milestone on the road to Qatar 2022". en.as.com. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Tradition and innovation come together as striking Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah City is opened". FIFA. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ "Amir inaugurates Al Janoub Stadium". thepeninsulaqatar.com. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "600 days to go: Qatar's FIFA World Cup stadiums are looking incredible". thepeninsulaqatar.com. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "2021 FIFA Arab Cup: Participating teams, fixtures and all you need to know". goal.com. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "See the first photos of Zaha Hadid's controversial World Cup stadium here". fastcompany.com. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "Zaha Hadid's 2022 World Cup stadium in Qatar adapts for future use". inhabitat.com. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Tradition and innovation come together as striking Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah City is opened". fifa.com. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Get To Know The 2022 Qatar World Cup Stadiums". ArchDaily. 2018-08-02. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
- ^ a b "A modern take on a historic design". qatar2022.qa. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 9 December 2021 suggested (help) - ^ "Get To Know The 2022 Qatar World Cup Stadiums". archdaily.com. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ "The mastermind behind Qatar 2022's air-cooled stadiums". qatar2022.qa. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Al Janoub Stadium". See You In 2022.
- ^ "Zaha Hadid Architects Al Janoub Stadium Wakrah, Qatar". floornature.com. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "2022 FIFA World Cup: French delegation praises Al-Wakrah stadium". gdnonline.com. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2022.