The Al-Janoub stadium is located in one of the oldest inhabited places in Qatar: the city of Al-Wakrah.
With a capacity of 40,000, this stadium is one of eight freshly constructed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
e of eight freshly constructed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Al Janoub Stadium Background
As the second stadium to be completed, Al Janoub has already seen some sporting action.
Its inaugural match was the 2019 Amir Cup final, Qatar’s domestic cup, and was contested between Al Sadd and Al-Duhail. Al Janoub also hosted the 2020 AFC Champions League final, which was won by South Korean outfit Ulsan Hyundai.
The stadium was designed by famous Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, and features her typical curvaceous composition. The roof design was inspired by the sails on traditional Dhow boats, which were used by local pearl divers, an industry for which the city of Al-Wakrah is known for.
Accompanying the stadium are various facilities, such as a wedding hall, a school, sports tracks, restaurants, and shopping areas.
The stadium also boasts a cooling system that gives spectators a luxurious experience, even in the arid and blistering climate of the Qatari desert.
What matches will the Al Janoub Stadium host?
You’ll be hearing this stadium’s name a lot. The Socceroos play all their group stage matches at the Al Janoub Stadium, including the first match here against France.
In total, the Al Janoub Stadium will host seven matches, with all but one of these during the group stage phase. France and Denmark are perhaps the two most revered teams that will feature here, while the last group stage game to be played here will see Ghana face off against Uruguay in an effort to get revenge for their heartbreaking exit at the 2010 World Cup.
Here are the details of all the games that Al Janoub will host:
Group G
24/11/2022
Switzerland
Cameroon
STARTS AT
11:00 GMT+0100Group G
28/11/2022
Cameroon
Serbia
STARTS AT
11:00 GMT+0100Group H
02/12/2022
Ghana
Uruguay
STARTS AT
16:00 GMT+0100Group D
22/11/2022
France
Australia
STARTS AT
20:00 GMT+0100Group D
26/11/2022
Tunisia
Australia
STARTS AT
11:00 GMT+0100Group D
30/11/2022
Australia
Denmark
STARTS AT
16:00 GMT+0100
05/12/2022
Japan
Croatia
STARTS AT
16:00 GMT+0100
05/12/2022
Japan
Croatia
STARTS AT
16:00 GMT+0100
What will happen to the Al Janoub Stadium after the World Cup?
As with most of the stadiums, Al Janoub’s size will be reduced in the aftermath of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It will see a 50% reduction in its capacity, from 40,000 down to 20,000.
The Al Janoub Stadium will subsequently become the home of Al-Wakrah SC, who play in the Qatar Stars League, the country’s top tier of football.
The leftover seats, as claimed by government officials, will be donated to developing countries to support the creation of sporting arenas in those nations.