Lusail Stadium, centerpiece of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, officially opened on 9 September with the Lusail Super Cup final between the winners of the professional leagues of Saudi Arabia and Egypt – Al Hilal SFC and Zamalek, respectively.

Designed by Foster + Partners with Arup and Populous collaborating, the stadium takes in 80,000 spectators and will be the venue of the final match of the World Cup, set to be held from 20 November to 18 December. The stadium is also the centerpiece of the new Qatari city of Lusail, 15 kilometers north of Doha. Local architecture and crafts provided inspiration for the golden bowl that seeks to reflect the building’s function, addressing the region’s climate. The perforated envelope presents triangular pieces on a curved steel structure. The high-performance facades and an innovative design for the roof with a 307-meter diameter do much to reduce the amount of energy that the stadium consumes, giving it a five-star rating under the Global Sustainability Assessment System.

Lusail Stadium is the last building to be completed in time for Qatar 2022. Also among the eight arenas slated to host World Cup matches are Al Janoub in Al Wakrah, by Zaha Hadid Architects, and 974 in Doha, by Fenwick Iribarren Architects.