DOHA: The construction at Lusail Stadium, the proposed host venue for both the opening match and final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, is progressing rapidly, according to the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure required to host the tournament.

Work on the substructure of the 80,000-seat stadium has surpassed 75% and the west stand, which contains the VVIP, VIP and media tribunes, among other elements, is visibly rising up from the ground to reach an imposing elevation of more than 70 metres.

The installation of the west stand’s precast elements, which will support the bleachers on which fans will sit, has also now commenced.

Tamim El Abed, the SC’s Lusail Stadium Project Manager, explained the ongoing works. “We began work on-site at the end of 2016 and you can see the progress we have made in that short space of time,” said El Abed.

“Now that work on the substructure is nearing completion, you will really start to see the superstructure rise up from the ground. Every day the site is changing, which is building excitement both within the team on-site and among the many visitors we welcome each month.”

Away from the main stadium location but still within the Lusail Stadium precinct, the SC has now completed work on accommodation for 3,500 workers, replete with a supermarket, barbers, volleyball and basketball courts, and an internet café.

Work on Lusail City, which surrounds Lusail Stadium, is also progressing rapidly. Encompassing residential, commercial, hospitality and retail space, Lusail City is expected to house more than 200,000 residents and welcome 170,000 people for work once completed. Residents have even begun to move into some of the apartments along the Lusail Expressway. The Lusail Light Tram, which is run by Qatar Rail, is nearly complete, with a track that runs directly through the Lusail Stadium precinct.

El Abed concluded: “The whole atmosphere around the stadium is one of a city coming to life. You can see the Lusail Metro Station a short distance away, which will one day bring thousands of fans to the area on matchday. It’s an exciting time to be a part of this project and I hope the people of Qatar are looking forward to what’s in store.”