Education City Stadium hosts its first official match

The Education City Stadium, which was officially unveiled on June 15, 2020, and is the third match-ready FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is all set to host its first official match this evening.

According to a press statement by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the Education City Stadium will welcome QNB Stars League (QSL) sides Al Sadd SC and Al Kharaitiyat SC for the 2020/2021 season opener today (September 3) at 18:15 Doha time.

#QNBStarsLeague Week 1 – @alkharaitiyat vs @AlsaddSC

🔗https://t.co/AmnCGhAtoT pic.twitter.com/f6dT1ayoqY

— Qatar Stars League (@QSL_EN) September 2, 2020

Dubbed the 'Diamond in the Desert', the stadium has a 40,000-capacity and is set to host matches up to and including the quarter-finals stage during the FIFA World Cup 2022™.

The stadium is located in the heart of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, and surrounded by leading universities, educational institutions, and recreational facilities.

Once the FIFA World Cup™ is over, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced by half, with 20,000 seats used as part of legacy programs that will support the creation of sports facilities in developing countries around the world.

“Seeing the gradual, safe return of fans to stadiums around the world is a true testament to our resilience as societies, and to the great work that was carried out by frontline healthcare workers in Qatar and beyond," commented the Secretary General of SC, Hassan Al Thawadi.

"We are really excited to mark the return to football in Qatar at our newest stadium, and give fans and players a taste of what to look forward to in 2022 and beyond," he added.

CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Nasser Al Khater, said, “The digital launch of Education City Stadium in June, marking the readiness of the third FIFA World Cup venue after Al Janoub and Khalifa International Stadiums, was a major tournament milestone which was delivered under exceptionally challenging circumstances, and set the standard for the innovative nature of Qatar 2022."

Earlier in January this year, the Education City Stadium received a 5-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS). The prestigious award is considered "a mark of excellence in sustainability, design, and construction," FIFA had said. 

The Education City Stadium embraces several sustainability features such as direct access to public transport via the Education City tram system link to Doha Metro and low toxicity indoor materials that provide a healthy indoor environment.

With the launch of the 2020/2021 QNB Stars League season, fans will be allowed to attend matches in line with the preventive measures outlined in Phase 4 of the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Qatar.

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Cover Image Credit and Source: SC