All the infrastructure, projects and stadiums for FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar are almost nearing completion, with focus now being on operational readiness, particularly with regard to transportation, accommodation, hospitality, waste management and other services, said Eng. Yasir Al Jamal, the Chairman of Operations Office and Vice Chairman of Technical Delivery Office, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC).
Speaking at a recent press conference, Al Jamal said that SC has so far completed nearly 90 percent of infrastructure projects and stadiums for the World Cup, with only three stadiums remaining under construction – Lusail, Al Thumama and Ras Abu Aboud. These will be ready by third quarter of 2021.
The stadiums will be used in several tournaments hosted by Doha to test their readiness prior to the World Cup.
Further, Al Jamal explained that SC has professional committees, plans and protocols for all tournament projects with regard to the operational process. These plans will be executed in the events to be hosted by Qatar from now, until the Worlc Cup, including the final of Amir Cup to be played between al Sadd and Al Arabi, to open the Al-Rayyan Stadium, the fourth Qatar World Cup 2022 stadium.
Arab Cup due for December 2021 will be the most important event to be hosted by Qatar in the coming period, and it will help identify the readiness of the operational plans to host the World Cup.
In fact, Arab Cup would be like a mini-tournament and a real rehearsal before the 2022 World cup to prepare for the World Cup. It will be like a real test for the stadiums, facilities and other plans in place. The Committee would announce the stadiums and the matches that it will host at the beginning of next year.
Once the Amir Cup final has been hosted, the Al-Rayyan Stadium will host FIFA Club World Cup matches in February 2021, followed by the Arab Cup and Qatari League matches next year. The work at Al-Bayt Stadium has been completed, Al Jamal said.
Al Jamal further pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic did affect the preparations for Qatar 2022. But, the SC managed to arrive at a mechanism that largely focused on workers’ safety and took necessary measures and precautions by working together with the Health Ministry and SC Workers’ Welfare team.
He further said that the World Cup projects’ emergency plans have been useful and it helped bring back all projects and put them on track for completion.
Al Jamal said Amir Cup final would implement special health protocols that has not been applicable in any global sporting events during the coronavirus period so far. Fans would be tested at the Al Arabi Club, the Al Sadd Club and the Exhibition Centre.
After putting this special protocol in place, the seating capacity for the final match has been increased from 30 percent to 50 percent, and this has been done in coordination with MoPH and Qatar Football Association, he said.
