The unique stadium made with 974 containers where Messi and Lewandowski will clash in Qatar 2022

Detachable and “navigated”, Stadium 974 will be the first main stadium of the 2022 Qatar World Cup to be seen by fans coming to the country. It is a sports center with a unique name and design, where the star material, maritime cargo containers, will be able to sail back into the ocean once the competition is over.

974 was undoubtedly the most -watched stadium of all event attendeesan impressive figure that can be seen from almost any point of the coast where the city is located and where the largest number of hotels are located. It is also the closest to Doha airport, an obligatory step to enter or leave the country.

Also, due to its unique design and concept, it is a stadium that can be seen again anywhere in the world once the cup is owned and can be dismantled, carried and re-installed as needed.

And if it’s not needed, the 974 containers that give it shape and name will be able to return to their usual routine of carrying goods, as they retain their navigation certificates throughout the process. Doon

Waiting for scrap

The stadium, with a capacity for approximately 40,000 spectators, looks clean and ready to receive fans, apart from a few minor works missing in access and in the parking area.

The idea of ​​the stadium emerged from meetings of the organizing committee with Spanish architecture studio Fenwick Irribarren, from Madrid, where the notion “of a temporary stadium, that nature allows it to be moved elsewhere after use as a venue for a mega-event like the World Cup ”.

This was explained by Mohamed Al Atwaan, manager of 974 and responsible for the place being in optimal condition for Poland-Mexico, their first World Cup match which will take place on November 22. There will be six duels to be hosted in the stage this, including the rivalry between Argentina and Poland, with Lionel Messi on one side and Robert Lewandowski on the other.

“With the idea of ​​a temporary stadium, came the idea of ​​using ship containers, which are easy to carry, to move anywhere. So, the two main parts of this stadium are the containers, 974, which are certified, and if where they share operations, in addition to 30,000 tons of steel that carries the weight of everything up to the roof, ”Al Atwaan summarized.

All meet the same FIFA requirements for a stadium of this level and to be able to dedicate to another task after the event.

Changing rooms, boxes, bathrooms, food and beverage areas, first aid stations, areas for the press and even the VIP area are some of the areas that are inside a container, which also keeps their unique color and industrial air that they give a curious aspect to the construction.

The future of the stadium

Part of this look is due to the need for the material to maintain the navigability certificates required by maritime authorities, whose unique marks, seals and stickers remain visible to all during the championship. According to Al Atwaan, there are many options for the model.

“We have the flexibility to rebuild a stadium with the same 40,000 capacity or build smaller stadiums with 20,000 or 10,000 spectators. Temporary space … Or reuse them as transportation,” he summarized.

It is understood that part of the stands and the structure will be provided to third world countries, but not the final destination of the containers.

By Álvaro Mellizo / EFE Agency