The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Qatar Foundation (QF) have announced the completion of the third tournament venue for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Located in the heart of Education City – Qatar’s education, research and innovation hub – the 40,000-capacity Education City Stadium is slated to host matches up to the quarter-finals stage during the tournament.
The stadium’s completion will be marked digitally on SC’s social media platforms, in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic, and via special 60-minute programmes in both Arabic and English on beIN Sports tonight. The ‘Road to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’ Arabic show will commemorate the stadium’s completion and official unveiling, while the English show will feature special guests who will discuss the future of sport in a post-pandemic world.
Al Kass TV, Al Rayyan TV and Qatar TV will also provide intensive coverage to mark the stadium’s completion.
HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of QF, said: “The eyes of the world will be on this stadium when it hosts matches as the World Cup comes to Qatar and the region in 2022, but its value will extend far beyond the tournament.
“The stadium’s place at the heart of Qatar Foundation’s vibrant, open community will make it an enduring focal point and a hub of activity, social interaction, and knowledge. It will continue to bring people together long after the World Cup, encourage them to embrace sport and healthy living, and – as one of the world’s most sustainable sporting venues – promote the importance of making sustainability a key element of our lifestyles.
“This is a stadium to experience, enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by, with a lifespan that will stretch across generations. We are delighted and proud that it stands within our community at Qatar Foundation and congratulate all involved in bringing the vision of this stadium to magnificent reality.”
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Chairman and Secretary-General of the SC, Hassan al-Thawadi, said: “The completion of the third tournament-ready venue is a proud moment for the SC, QF and the entire country. We remain on track to deliver the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world – and hope to unveil two more stadiums by the end of the year.”
Al-Thawadi continued: “While the world continues to battle Covid-19, we hope news of the stadium’s completion shows there is light at the end of the tunnel. We will soon return to something approaching normality – including football matches in packed stadiums.
“The first World Cup in our region – and only the second in Asia – was already incredibly symbolic. However, due to Covid-19, I believe our tournament has taken on added importance. It can be football that brings everyone together after Covid-19 and Qatar looks forward to brighter times and uniting the world at this very venue in 2022.”
beIN Sports to broadcast special programmes and exclusive interviews on completion of Education City Stadium
beIN Sports, the global sports channel, will broadcast the completion of the third FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue —Education City Stadium — with a dedicated programme ‘Road to Qatar 2022’ and a host of exclusive interviews tonight at 7pm.
The English studio coverage will be presented by Andy Kerr on beIN Sports HD11 while the Arabic studio coverage will be presented by Mohamed Saadon al-Kuwari and broadcast on beIN SPORTS News channel, Free to Air (FTA) channel and beIN Sports HD1.
Between both English and Arabic studios, contributions will be made from a host of experts, legends and analysts including Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secretary-General Hassan al-Thawadi, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser al-Khater, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger, Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert, Belgian national football team head coach Roberto Martinez, Italian football legend Paolo Maldini, Egyptian legend and beIN analyst Mohamed Aboutrika and more.
Both the studios will also address matters related to the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic with the Head of the Department of Communicable Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Dr Abdullatif al-Khal and the Director of Player Welfare at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Michael Bennett.
beIN Sports’ English studio will also have a panel discussing the mental health issues that have arisen from the crisis as well as the economic and physical issues that the world’s sporting community is facing.
“As the official broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup, beIN Sports’ main focus is providing millions of viewers with an exceptional World Cup experience. With a strong and proud footprint in the Middle East, we are tremendously excited and can’t wait for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to kick off right here in Qatar. As we move closer to the biggest sporting event in the history of this region, we are delighted to share this historic moment with our millions of viewers across Mena,” beIN Media Group’s Head of Sports Jonathan Whitehead said.
