Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

The stadium in brief

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium carries the name of Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, Emir of Qatar from 1960 to 1972, but most fans still call it the Al Rayyan Stadium. It stands on the site of an earlier ground of the same name, built in 2003 with room for about 21,000 people and demolished in 2015 to make way for a World Cup venue.

The new stadium opened on 18 December 2020, Qatar National Day, with the Amir Cup final, exactly two years before the 2022 World Cup final. Its tournament layout held about 45,000 people, and it is now the home of Al Rayyan SC, whose red-and-black colours are picked out in the seating.

Where it is

The stadium lies beside Dukhan Road, the main highway west out of Doha, about 20 km from the city centre in the municipality of Al Rayyan. This is where the western suburbs begin to give way to open desert, a setting that suits a stadium whose decoration draws so heavily on the landscape.

It is the westernmost of the eight venues and sits at the far end of the Green Line. Education City Stadium is just one stop back along the same line, so the two are easy to combine.

Design and architecture

Pattern Design wrapped the stadium in a facade of geometric shapes that are said to represent four themes: family, the beauty of the desert, the country's native plants and animals, and local and international trade. Up close the shapes read as abstract ornament, and it takes a second look to connect them with the stories they are meant to tell.

Part of the exterior is a large media facade, a membrane that can act as a screen for projections, news, tournament information and match updates. On big nights it turns the outside of the stadium into a giant noticeboard, visible from Dukhan Road. Inside, every seat is shaded, and the stands rise close to the pitch in a compact, football-only bowl.

Cooling and recycling

Like the other World Cup venues, the stadium uses cooling technology that delivers chilled air close to spectators and players, so football can be played here for much more of the year. The system follows the approach first used at Khalifa International Stadium.

Recycling was a theme of the rebuild. Roughly 90 per cent of the rubble from the old stadium was earmarked for reuse, either in the new building or in public art installations around the site, so that the demolished ground lives on in its replacement.

History and big matches

The stadium was one of two venues for the 2020 Club World Cup, played in February 2021, and staged four matches of the 2021 Arab Cup. Its biggest weeks came during the 2022 World Cup, when it hosted seven matches. The first, on 21 November, was the United States against Wales, a 1–1 draw that marked Wales's first World Cup match since 1958. England beat Wales 3–0 here eight days later, and Croatia's goalless draw with Belgium on 1 December sent the Belgians home.

The last and largest crowd came on 3 December 2022, when 45,032 people watched Argentina beat Australia 2–1 in the round of 16, with Lionel Messi among the scorers on the road to Argentina's title. The stadium was busy again during the 2023 Asian Cup, played in early 2024, and on 6 February Jordan beat South Korea 2–0 here to reach their first Asian Cup final.

After 2022

The stadium was planned to shrink after the tournament. Around 20,000 upper-tier seats were to be removed and donated to countries that need sporting infrastructure, leaving a ground of about 21,000 seats that better suits a club's weekly crowds. As with the other venues, published figures for the present capacity vary, so check with the venue before a big match.

The wider precinct was planned as a community sports hub for this side of Al Rayyan, with a running and cycling track, football and cricket pitches, tennis and padel courts, a skate park, outdoor gym equipment and an aquatics centre. Which of these are open at any given time varies, so check before making a special trip.

Getting there

The Green Line ends at Al Riffa, the station for the stadium. From Msheireb in central Doha it is a straight ride west with no changes. The station sits beside a large shopping centre, and the stadium is within walking distance. Our Getting Around guide explains tickets, carriages and connections.

Around the stadium

Education City

One and two stops back along the Green Line, Education City has the Qatar National Library, the Education City Mosque and Oxygen Park, as well as the diamond-clad Education City Stadium. Late afternoon, when the heat starts to ease, is the best time to wander.

West along Dukhan Road

The highway continues west towards Al Shahaniya, an area known for camel racing. Races are held in the cooler months, and schedules vary, so check locally before driving out.

Back into the city

The same Green Line takes you straight back to Msheireb, a short walk from Souq Waqif and Msheireb Downtown Doha. See our Sights guide for what to see in each district.

Visiting tips

Al Riffa is the end of the line, so you cannot miss your stop on the way out, but after the final whistle everyone heads for the same platforms and queues can be long. For big fixtures, arrive 90 minutes to two hours before kick-off and expect to wait a while on the way home. Daytime highs in Doha average around 36 °C in October and only settle in the mid-20s from December to February.

What to carry

Frequently asked questions