Heritage

Lusail Stadium: Qatar’s Largest Stadium to Host FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Games

November 18, 2022
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By 
Rick Formalejo

It’s the world cup season for soccer fans around the world. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will kick off on November 20, 2022, with an opening match between Qatar and Ecuador. Prior to this match, an opening ceremony will be held at the Al Bayt Stadium. Apart from it, one of the centerpiece venues of the most anticipated sports event is the Lusail Iconic Stadium or Lusail Stadium where the final match will take place.

Lusail Stadium illuminated at night.

Designed by Foster + Partners, together with the firm’s joint venture partner Arup and sports specialist Populous, Lusail Stadium is the largest stadium in Qatar. Before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Lusail Stadium hosted the Lusail Super Cup final between Saudi Pro League champions, Al Hilal SFC and the Egyptian Premier League winners, Zamalek on September 9. 

The stadium’s high-performance façade reduces energy consumption.

“It was a delight to be at the game and see the stadium nearly filled with spectators for the first time. Our ambition was to create a striking yet simple form that reflects the building’s function, responds to the climate of Qatar, and enhances the theater of the event,” said Luke Fox, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners. “The arrival experience is intuitive and immersive. Spectators enter the vessel between two tiers of seating that have been intentionally compressed to heighten the sense of drama as they emerge into the generous seating bowl flooded with natural light,” he added.

Access to the stadium via a broad podium gives spectators a grand welcome
as they approach the gates.

The architect explains that the basis of the stadium’s design includes an in-depth analysis of the brief and the client’s requirements along with an appreciation of the climatic and cultural heritage of Qatar. The stadium is expressed externally as a burnished golden vessel that sparkles against sunlight. Triangular openings characterized the facade that visually reinforce the bowl’s structural diagrid and form a perforated screen to provide shade and filter dappled light onto the internal concourses. 

Foster + Partners also incorporated sustainable features into the design of the stadium. It has a high-performance facade and an innovative roof design that reduces the stadium’s energy consumption. They also used outdoor cooling technologies to maximize comfort within the open-air stadium. It has achieved a five-star rating under the Global Sustainability Assessment System.

The purity and simplicity of stadium’s form make it an iconic addition to the city skyline.

Moreover, the firm shares the stadium aims to create an immersive atmosphere for both players and spectators, the pitch, and its relationship to the seating bowl. Spectators can access the stadium via a broad podium, giving them a grand welcome as they approach the gates. The architect highlights that the stadium bowl acts as a contained ‘vessel’ that comes to life during matches and events. The 80,000-seat stadium has the capacity to host some of the most spectacular international events. 

Spectators enjoying the stadium’s immersive atmosphere.

Another highlight of the design of the stadium is the 307-meter-diameter “spoke-wheel” cable net roof, which is one of the largest tensile cable-net roofs in a stadium. This brings environmental comfort while also unifying the entire stadium under a single envelope. The architect explains that the outer compression ring is connected to a central tension ring by a complex cable system. The method creates a wide-expanse roof without the need for supporting columns. 

The stadium bowl acts as a contained ‘vessel’ which comes to life during matches and events.

The interior features the same muted sand-colored palette which is visible in the colors of the seats. It offers a calm backdrop to the vibrancy and energy of the supporters wearing team colors. 

Spectators enter the vessel between two tiers of seating that have been intentionally compressed to heighten the sense of drama.

The new Lusail Stadium will be symbolic of Qatar’s post-FIFA World Cup™ legacy for being playful with scale and geometrically elegant. The stadium is an iconic addition to the city skyline for its purity and simplicity in form. 

The façade features triangular openings that visually reinforce the bowl’s structural diagrid and form a perforated screen to provide shade and filter dappled light on to the internal concourses.

“Using the experience of redesigning Wembley Stadium with its now iconic arch, we are incredibly proud to have created a unique and instantly recognizable symbol for Qatar as host of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, including the final in Lusail. Together with our joint venture partner, Arup, and sports specialist Populous, we believe the stadium will be a truly memorable venue for this year’s final and many other international events in the future,” Angus Campbell, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, shares.

Photo Credits: Nigel Young / Foster + Partners

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