Stadium 974 is a football stadium in the Qatari city of Ras Abu Aboud. It is a temporary venue composed of 974 repurposed shipping containers.
The first and only temporary stadium in World Cup history, the 40,000-seat Ras Abu Aboud Stadium debuted in November of last year.
But how was it constructed?
And what will happen to it following the tournament?
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Here’s what we know about the venue.
Where is Stadium 974?
The stadium is located in Doha’s Ras Abou Aboud neighbourhood, which is primarily industrial and home to one of Qatar’s three main power plants that generate the nation’s electricity. The Doha Sailing Club and the Qatar Table Tennis Association are located nearby.
The stadium was designed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects
Why is it called Stadium 974?
Remarkably, the stadium is made from some 974 shipping containers, which can be seen on the facade of the venue and throughout the interior, where they make up bathrooms, entrances and food and drink stalls. The stadium is constructed on a 450,000-square-meter waterfront site and is situated on an artificial promontory.
The number 974 wasn’t an accident either, as it is also the international dialling code for Qatar (+974).
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Has Stadium 974 hosted football matches before?
The stadium hosted six matches at last November’s FIFA Arab Cup, with the first coming when the United Arab Emirates beat Syria 2-1 in front of just over four thousand fans on November 30, ten days after an official launch event to rename the stadium.
Stadium 974 hosted a semi-final and the third-place playoff at the Arab Cup, with Tunisia beating Egypt 1-0 in the former in front of 36,427 fans, the current record attendance at the ground.
Which World Cup 2022 matches will be played at Stadium 974?.
Portugal, France, Brazil and Argentina will all play there, before the stadium hosts a round of 16 match between the winner of Group G and the runner-up of Group H on December 5.
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The full list of matches at Stadium 974:
November 22: Mexico vs Poland, 4pm GMT
November 24: Portugal vs Ghana, 4pm GMT
November 26: France vs Denmark, 4pm GMT
November 28: Brazil vs Switzerland, 4pm GMT
November 30: Poland vs Argentina, 7pm GMT
December 2: Serbia vs Switzerland, 7pm GMT
December 5: Winner Group G vs Runner-up Group H, 7pm GMT
See Also: FIFA World Cup: Qatar 2022 Group Stage Fixtures and kick-off times
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What will happen to Stadium 974 after the World Cup?
It will be dismantled, but the fate of the shipping containers is unknown.
It was initially stated that they would be returned for use elsewhere in Qatar, which the organisers have been anxious to promote as the most sustainable large event ever undertaken.
It has also been suggested that the stadium could be completely reconstructed in Uruguay for the 2030 World Cup, the centenary edition of the event that the 1930 victors are vying to host in collaboration with Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay.
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