Two months before the 2022 Football World Cup, Qatar is not ready. Its Lusail stadium, which will host the final of the competition, malfunctioned during a test match organized three weeks ago between the Saudi club al-Hilal and the Egyptian Zamalek.
According to the Dutch media Het Laatste Nieuws, nothing went as planned. First flop : the air conditioning system. While Qatar has installed air-conditioning in its stadiums, despite the reluctance to do so, the air-conditioning in the Lusail stadium did not work properly. The 77,000 spectators watched the game in 34 degrees and high humidity. Those wishing to stay hydrated and cool down even had to face a shortage of drinking water.
Faced with these conditions, the vast majority of the audience left the stadium at half-time. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, this massive departure caused a queue of 2.5 kilometers in front of the nearest metro station.
This test was therefore a big failure for the World Cup organizing committee. However, the organizers are clearly not worried and want to reassure everyone: “This event is designed to identify any operational issues and draw lessons that can be applied to help Qatar deliver a great experience for everyone.
The FIFA World Cup will kick off on November 20. The Lusail Stadium, which cost Qatar 662 million euros, will host the first match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia on November 22.
