After achieving the first pouring of concrete at Al Rayyan Stadium, India-headquartered global construction major Larsen & Toubro (L & T) have hailed the significance of the landmark event. The milestone at the proposed host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ took place five weeks ahead of schedule.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) appointed the joint venture of L & T and Qatar's Al Balagh Trading and Contracting as the main contractor on the 40,000 seater stadium on 1 June. The initial concrete pouring on the West stand took place, in a ceremony marked on site at Al Rayyan Stadium, on 12 June.

Talking afterwards to www.sc.qa, L & T's India-based Whole Time Director & Senior Executive Vice President (Buildings, Minerals & Metals) M. V. Satish said that the joint venture was proud of the progress achieved so far at Al Rayyan Stadium.

"Our joint venture is glad that the first concrete pouring of this 2022 FIFA World Cup proposed host venue has been completed five weeks ahead of schedule," said Satish. "L & T have a history of successfully delivering stadium projects across many countries ahead of schedule, and we are confident we will deliver Al Rayyan Stadium on time."

The Al Rayyan Stadium project is the first ever involvement in a FIFA World Cup™ project for L & T, India's largest construction company, which has an impressive track record of constructing major sporting venues. "We have been involved with the world cup competitions of other sports such as cricket, but the global appeal of the FIFA World Cup is unrivalled and we therefore attach great significance to the Al Rayyan project," Satish said.

For L & T, building the new home of the Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions Al Rayyan SC coincides with the potential emergence of Indian football as a mass urban sport.

"Football is generating massive interest among the youth of India, and through the Al Rayyan project we are pleased to be one of the country's global representatives for the sport," said Satish. "India is also hosting its first-ever FIFA event [the FIFA Under-17 World Cup] in 2017, and therefore Al Rayyan Stadium construction will have a futuristic resonance for L & T in India."

After the tournament, 20,000 modular seats in the top tier of the stadium will be dismantled and donated to countries in need of football infrastructure, contributing to the global development of football.