Al Janoub Stadium

The stadium in brief

Al Janoub, whose name means "the south" in Arabic, was the first of the 2022 venues built from the ground up to be finished. Khalifa International Stadium had reopened earlier, but as a redevelopment. Al Janoub opened on 16 May 2019 with the Amir Cup final in front of a near-capacity crowd, and in its early days it was known as Al Wakrah Stadium.

The design came from Zaha Hadid Architects, working with AECOM. Dame Zaha Hadid died in 2016, three years before it opened, so she never saw the finished building. Its tournament layout held about 44,300 people. Today it is the home ground of Al Wakrah SC and stages Qatar Stars League football.

Where it is

The stadium stands in Al Wakrah, about 22 km south of central Doha and beyond Hamad International Airport. Al Wakrah grew up as a fishing and pearl-diving settlement, and its seafront still feels unhurried compared with the capital.

Al Janoub is the southernmost of the eight venues. It lies roughly 55 km in a straight line from Al Bayt in Al Khor, the northernmost, and the road between them is considerably longer. If you are planning more than one match in a few days, check the stadiums overview for how the venues fit together.

Design and architecture

The roof is the whole story. Its curving lines are modelled on the sails of the dhows that Al Wakrah's pearl divers once took out into the Gulf, and the bowed beams that support it echo the timbers of a hull. Seen from outside, the shape suggests a cluster of boats with their sails catching the wind; from the stands, the effect is closer to sitting beneath the canopy of a ship.

Zaha Hadid Architects planned the stadium as the centrepiece of a new urban district rather than a stand-alone arena, with public spaces meant to be used on ordinary days as well as match nights. Its flowing form, with very few straight lines, is typical of the practice's work.

Roof, cooling and climate

The retractable roof, made of pleated fabric and cables, can close over the pitch to shade it. Climate studies helped shape the bowl, and glass was kept to a minimum to limit heat gain, so that the stadium's cooling system has less work to do. Chilled air is delivered close to the seats and the pitch, the method first proven at Khalifa International Stadium and used across the tournament venues.

History and big matches

After the opening Amir Cup final in May 2019, the stadium hosted a semi-final of the Arabian Gulf Cup that December, in which Saudi Arabia beat Qatar 1–0. A year later it staged the final of Asia's continental club competition, and six matches of the 2021 Arab Cup followed.

Seven matches of the 2022 World Cup were played here. France opened their campaign with a 4–1 win over Australia, Cameroon and Serbia drew 3–3, and Australia's 1–0 win over Denmark took them into the knockout rounds. Ghana against Uruguay drew the record crowd of 43,443, and Croatia beat Japan on penalties in the round of 16. Six matches of the 2023 Asian Cup followed in early 2024.

After 2022

Al Janoub was designed with a modular upper tier so that its capacity could be roughly halved after the tournament, from around 40,000 seats to about 20,000, a size better suited to a club ground in a town of Al Wakrah's scale. Published figures for the present capacity differ, so check the current number with the venue before a big game.

Plans for the surrounding precinct included a school, sports facilities and running and cycling tracks. As with all the post-tournament plans, progress varies.

Getting there

The metro takes you most of the way. Al Wakra is the southern terminus of the Red Line, reached from Msheireb in central Doha via Oqba Ibn Nafie, Free Zone and Ras Bu Fontas. The stadium is a few kilometres from the station, too far for a comfortable walk in the heat, so plan the last stretch in advance. Our Getting Around guide covers the metro, feeder buses and taxis in more detail.

Around the stadium

Al Wakrah Souq and the seafront

The traditional-style souq on the waterfront is a maze of low, sand-coloured buildings and quiet lanes, and the beach in front of it is lined with wooden boats. It is at its best around sunset and in the evening, when families come out to walk the promenade. Opening hours of individual shops and stalls vary, so check before making a special trip.

South towards the dunes

Beyond Al Wakrah the road continues south towards Mesaieed and the dunes beyond it, the usual starting point for four-wheel-drive trips to Khor Al Adaid, the inland sea. Our Travel Tips and Sights pages cover day trips from Doha.

On the way back north

Al Thumama Stadium lies between Al Wakrah and central Doha, close to the airport, and is the natural neighbour if you are seeing more than one venue.

Visiting tips

Because of the extra leg from the metro, give yourself more time than for the city-centre stadiums. For big fixtures, aim to reach Al Wakra station at least two hours before kick-off. After the final whistle, shuttle queues build fast; waiting a while in the stadium precinct, or heading towards the souq before calling a car, can be less stressful than joining the first rush.

Daytime highs in Doha average around 36 °C in October and around 30 °C in November, falling to the mid-20s in mid-winter. Evening matches are kinder, but the air is often humid near the coast.

What to carry

Frequently asked questions