| ملعب الجنوب | |
 | |
 Interactive map of Al-Janoub Stadium | |
| Full name | Al-Janoub Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Al-Wakrah Stadium (May 2019–June 2019) |
| Location | Al Wakrah,Qatar |
| Coordinates | 25°09′35.2″N51°34′26.7″E / 25.159778°N 51.574083°E /25.159778; 51.574083 |
| Owner | Qatar Football Association |
| Capacity | 44,325[2] |
| Record attendance | 43,443 (Ghana vsUruguay,2 December 2022) |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Roof | Retractable |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2014 |
| Built | 2014–2019 |
| Opened | 16 May 2019[1] |
| Renovated | 2019 |
| Architect | Zaha Hadid |
| Services engineer | Jain and Partners |
| Main contractors | Midmac Contracting Co. Six Construct Qatar Porr Qatar Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Al-Wakrah SC (2020–present) Qatar national football team (selected matches) | |
| Part of a series on the |
| 2022 FIFA World Cup |
|---|
.svg) |
 Media related to2022 FIFA World Cup at Wikimedia Commons |
Al-Janoub Stadium (Arabic:استاد الجنوب,romanized: Istād al-Janūb,lit. 'Stadium of the South'),[3] formerly known asAl-Wakrah Stadium (Arabic:استاد الوكرة), is aretractable-rooffootball stadium inal-Wakrah,Qatar that was inaugurated on 16 May 2019. This was the second of the eight stadiums inaugurated for the2022 FIFA World Cup inQatar, after the renovation ofKhalifa International Stadium.[4] It was designed by Iraqi-British architectZaha Hadid (1950–2016) together with the firmsAECOM[5] and Jain & Partners ofDubai.[citation needed]
The stadium features a curvilinearpostmodernist andneo-futurist design. The appearance of the roof was inspired by the sails of traditionaldhows used bypearl divers from the region, weaving through currents of thePersian Gulf.[6]
It is the official headquarters of the football clubAl-Wakrah SC, where the matches of theQatar Stars League are held. The capacity of the stadium is 20,000; the capacity was 40,000 before the World Cup.[7]
The stadium is located about 22 km south ofDoha.[8]
Qatar was chosen to host the2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010, becoming the first Muslim country and the first country in theMiddle East to host the World Cup.[9] Qatar previously did not have the sporting capability for the Cup, and 8 new stadiums were built for the Cup.[10]
The stadium was inaugurated on 16 May 2019, during the2019 Amir Cup final betweenAl Sadd SC andAl-Duhail SC played in front of an audience of 38,678 people, making it the second stadium to be completed afterKhalifa International Stadium.[11] This match was attended by the Emir (head of state) of Qatar,Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.[12][13]
The stadium hosted a semifinal match at the24th Arabian Gulf Cup.[14]
In December 2020, Al Janoub Stadium hosted the2020 AFC Champions League Final.[15]
The stadium hosted six matches of the2021 FIFA Arab Cup.[16]
The stadium was designed by the architect Zaha Hadid, and her architectural firm,Zaha Hadid Architects.[17] Zaha Hadid Architects stated that “The stadium was designed in conjunction with a new precinct so that it sits at the heart of an urban extension of the city, creating community-based activities in and around the stadium on non-event days.”[18]
According to the designers, the stadium's exterior was inspired by the sails of traditionalDhow boats, used by pearl divers from the region, weaving through currents of thePersian Gulf.[6][19] The curvilinear roof and exterior references Al Wakrah's history of seafaring, additionally giving spectators the feeling on being on a ship.[20] Bowed beams hold up the roof, resembling a ship's hull.[21] The building is meant to resemble upturned dhow hulls arranged in a huddle to provide shade and shelter. Many observers have pointed out that the design resemblesfemale genitalia—a claim Zaha Hadid dismissed as "embarrassing" and "ridiculous."[22] The roof of the stadium is retractable, and is made from pleated PTFE fabric and cables, with the roof arches being 230 meters long.[23]
The cooling system prevents the stadium's users from overheating, due toQatar's hot and arid climate. It is capable of cooling the spectator areas to 18°C and the field of play to 20°C.[24] According to Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), "detailed micro-climate analysis informed the arena's shape, with aerodynamics and optimal shading from the roof, which incorporates a minimal amount of glass, making a significant contribution to temperature control."[21]
The sports complex includes a multipurpose room, with swimming pools and spas and a shopping center with green roofs. The entrance to the stadium will be on a wooded square.
A school, wedding hall, cycling, horse riding and running tracks, restaurants, marketplaces and gyms within the vicinity are planned to be built to accompany Al Janoub Stadium.[21]
After the2022 FIFA World Cup, Al Janoub Stadium is theAl-Wakrah SC's home, instead of the currentSaoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium. The seating capacity is planned to be halved from 40,000 to 20,000 and used forQatar Stars League matches.[7] Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy has claimed that the remaining half of the stadium's seats will be donated to developing countries in need of sporting infrastructure.[25][26]
| Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 December 2019 | 20ː00 |  Saudi Arabia | 1–0 |  Qatar | Semifinals | 42,025 |
| Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 November 2021 | 16ː00 |  Iraq | 1–1 |  Oman | Group A | 1,576 |
| 1 December 2021 | 19ː00 |  Morocco | 4–0 |  Palestine | Group C | 3,843 |
| 4 December 2021 | 16ː00 |  Lebanon | 0–2 |  Algeria | Group D | 9,405 |
| 6 December 2021 | 18ː00 |  Syria | 1–2 |  Mauritania | Group B | 8,539 |
| 7 December 2021 | 22ː00 | Algeria | 1–1 |  Egypt | Group D | 32,418 |
| 11 December 2021 | 18ː00 | Egypt | 3–1 |  Jordan | Quarterfinals | 28,306 |
The Al Janoub Stadium hosted seven matches during the2022 FIFA World Cup.
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 November 2022 | 22:00 |  France | 4–1 |  Australia | Group D | 40,875 |
| 24 November 2022 | 13:00 |  Switzerland | 1–0 |  Cameroon | Group G | 39,089 |
| 26 November 2022 | 13:00 |  Tunisia | 0–1 | Australia | Group D | 41,823 |
| 28 November 2022 | 13:00 | Cameroon | 3–3 |  Serbia | Group G | 39,789 |
| 30 November 2022 | 18:00 | Australia | 1–0 |  Denmark | Group D | 41,232 |
| 2 December 2022 | 18:00 |  Ghana | 0–2 |  Uruguay | Group H | 43,443 |
| 5 December 2022 | 18:00 |  Japan | 1–1 (a.e.t.)(1–3p) |  Croatia | Round of 16 | 42,523 |
On 5 April 2023, the Al Janoub Stadium was chosen as one of eight (then nine) venues for the2023 AFC Asian Cup. It hosted six matches.
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2024 | 20:30 |  Malaysia | 0–4 | Jordan | Group E | 20,410 |
| 18 January 2024 | 20:30 | Palestine | 1–1 |  United Arab Emirates | Group C | 41,986 |
| 23 January 2024 | 14:30 | Australia | 1–1 |  Uzbekistan | Group B | 15,290 |
| 25 January 2024 | 14:30 |  South Korea | 3–3 | Malaysia | Group E | 30,117 |
| 30 January 2024 | 14:30 | Uzbekistan | 2–1 |  Thailand | Round of 16 | 18,691 |
| 2 February 2024 | 18:30 | Australia | 1–2 | South Korea | Quarter-finals | 39,632 |