ملعب الجنوب | |
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Interior view of the stadium during a visit by Jair Bolsonaro in October 2019
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Full name | Al-Janoub Stadium |
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Former names | Al-Wakrah Stadium (2019–2020) |
Location | Al Wakrah, Qatar |
Coordinates | 25°09′35.2″N 51°34′26.7″E / 25.159778°N 51.574083°E / 25.159778; 51.574083 |
Owner | Qatar Football Association |
Capacity | 44,325[2] |
Record attendance | 43,443 (GhanavsUruguay, 2 December 2022) |
Field size | 105 x 68 m |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 2014 |
Built | 2014–2019 |
Opened | 16 May 2019[1] |
Renovated | 2019 |
Architect | Zaha Hadid |
Main contractors | Midmac Contracting Co.
Six Construct Qatar Porr Qatar Construction |
Tenants | |
Al-Wakrah Sports Club (2020–present) Qatar national football team (selected matches) |
Part of a series on the |
2022 FIFA World Cup |
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Al-Janoub Stadium (Arabic: استاد الجنوب, romanized: Istād al-Janūb, lit. 'Stadium of the South'),[3] formerly known as Al-Wakrah Stadium (Arabic: استاد الوكرة), is a retractable-roof football stadium in al-Wakrah, Qatar that was inaugurated on 16 May 2019. This was the second of the eight stadiums inaugurated for the 2022 FIFA World CupinQatar, after the renovation of Khalifa International Stadium.[4] It was designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid (1950–2016) together with the firms AECOM[5] and Jain & Partners of Dubai.[citation needed]
The stadium features a curvilinear postmodernist and neo-futurist design. The appearance of the roof was inspired by the sails of traditional dhows used by pearl divers from the region, weaving through currents of the Persian Gulf.[6]
It is the official headquarters of the football club Al-Wakrah SC, where the matches of the Qatar Stars League will be held. The capacity of the stadium is 20,000; the capacity was 40,000 before the World Cup.[7]
The stadium is located about 22 km south of Doha.[8]
Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010, becoming the first Muslim country and the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup.[9] Qatar previously did not have the sporting capability for the Cup, and 8 new stadiums were built for the Cup.[10]
The stadium was inaugurated on 16 May 2019, during the 2019 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 Khalifa International Stadium.[11] This match was attended by the Emir (head of state) of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.[12][13]
The stadium hosted a semifinal match at the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup.[14]
In December 2020, Al Janoub Stadium hosted the 2020 AFC Champions League Final.[15]
The stadium hosted six matches of the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.[16]
The stadium was designed by the architect Zaha Hadid, and her architectural firm, Zaha Hadid Architects.[17] 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.”[18]
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.[6][19] The curvilinear roof and exterior references Al Wakrah's history of seafaring, additionally giving spectators the feeling on being on a ship.[20] Bowed beams hold up the roof, resembling a ship's hull.[21] The building is meant to resemble upturned dhow hulls arranged in a huddle to provide shade and shelter. Many observers have pointed out that the design resembles female genitalia—a claim Zaha Hadid dismissed as "embarrassing" and "ridiculous."[22] The roof of the stadium is retractable, and is made from pleated PTFE fabric and cables, with the roof arches being 230 meters long.[23]
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.[24] 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."[21]
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]
After the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Al Janoub Stadium is the Al-Wakrah SC's home, instead of the current Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium. The seating capacity is planned to be halved from 40,000 to 20,000 and used for Qatar Stars League matches.[7] 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.[25][26]
Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
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5 December 2019 | 20ː00 | ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Semifinals | 42,025 |
Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
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30 November 2021 | 16ː00 | ![]() |
1–1 | ![]() |
Group A | 1,576 |
1 December 2021 | 19ː00 | ![]() |
4–0 | ![]() |
Group C | 3,843 |
4 December 2021 | 16ː00 | ![]() |
0–2 | ![]() |
Group D | 9,405 |
6 December 2021 | 18ː00 | ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
Group B | 8,539 |
7 December 2021 | 22ː00 | ![]() |
1–1 | ![]() |
Group D | 32,418 |
11 December 2021 | 18ː00 | ![]() |
3–1 | ![]() |
Quarterfinals | 28,306 |
The Al Janoub Stadium hosted seven matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
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22 November 2022 | 22:00 | ![]() |
4–1 | ![]() |
Group D | 40,875 |
24 November 2022 | 13:00 | ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Group G | 39,089 |
26 November 2022 | 13:00 | ![]() |
0–1 | ![]() |
Group D | 41,823 |
28 November 2022 | 13:00 | ![]() |
3–3 | ![]() |
Group G | 39,789 |
30 November 2022 | 18:00 | ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Group D | 41,232 |
2 December 2022 | 18:00 | ![]() |
0–2 | ![]() |
Group H | 43,443 |
5 December 2022 | 18:00 | ![]() |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p) | ![]() |
Round of 16 | 42,523 |
On 5 April 2023, the Al Janoub Stadium was chosen as one of eight venues for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. It hosted six matches.
Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
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15 January 2024 | 20:30 | ![]() |
0–4 | ![]() |
Group E | 20,410 |
18 January 2024 | 20:30 | ![]() |
1–1 | ![]() |
Group C | 41,986 |
23 January 2024 | 14:30 | ![]() |
1–1 | ![]() |
Group B | 15,290 |
25 January 2024 | 14:30 | ![]() |
3–3 | ![]() |
Group E | 30,117 |
30 January 2024 | 14:30 | ![]() |
2–1 | ![]() |
Round of 16 | 18,691 |
2 February 2024 | 18:30 | ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
Quarter-finals | 39,632 |
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General information |
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2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums
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Doha |
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Al Rayyan |
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2023 AFC Asian Cup stadiums
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Doha |
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Al Rayyan |
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Others |
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