The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy is just two days away from inaugurating the fourth tournament-ready stadium for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

On Friday, 18 December, Al Rayyan Venue will open its doors for the first time when it plays host to the Amir Cup final between Al Sadd and Al Arabi. The event will also mark this year’s Qatar National Day, along with the two-year countdown to the FIFA World Cup final.

The stadium – which will become the new home of Al Rayyan Sports Club – follows Khalifa International, Al Janoub and Education City in becoming ready to host the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world.

As part of the build-up to 18 December, a pre-match press conference took place at Al Rayyan Venue on Wednesday, 16 December, where organisers provided details regarding the match and related festivities. The speakers included Hassan Al Kuwari, LOC Venue Manager, Khalid Al Kuwari, LOC Marketing Director, Major Abdullah Ghanim Al Ghanim, Security Commander of Al Rayyan Venue, Abdulaziz Al Mawlawi, Host Country Mobility Operations Director, Ali Al Salat, LOC Media Relations Manager, and Dr Abdul Wahab Al Musleh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Information Systems at Hamad Medical Corporation.

Fans planning to attend Friday’s match, which will kick off at 7 PM, should take note of the following information in order to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Tickets

Tickets for the match have sold out.

Following discussions between the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Al Rayyan Venue will operate at 50% capacity. All fans who attend the Amir Cup Final 2020 must return either a negative COVID-19 test or a positive COVID-19 antibody test prior to being allowed access to the stadium.

On match day, fans will need to bring their ticket, Qatar ID (QID) and text message from the MOPH with details of their COVID-19 test result.

Tickets for the final are limited to one per person and will be linked to the QID of the purchaser. Tickets are non-transferable.

COVID-19

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the safety and security of fans attending the final is of the utmost importance.

Fans should note the following:

• Al Rayyan Venue will operate at 50% capacity
• Fans will be seated two seats apart
• Wearing a mask will be mandatory at all times
• Fans are required to present a negative COVID-19 test or positive COVID-19 antibodies test in order to enter the stadium
• Fans must present a green status on their Ehteraz app
• Temperature checks will be conducted prior to entry to the stadium
• Social distancing and regular handwashing will also be strongly encouraged
• Food and beverage concessions will not operate in the stadium and fans will not be able to bring food and beverages inside
• Food and beverages will only be available in the Fan Zone
• Al Rayyan Venue is equipped with a clinic, which will be available to fans who display COVID-19 symptoms or other illnesses

Fan Zone

The Fan Zone will be operational from 4-6 PM and again from 9 PM, after the match has concluded.

Fans should take note of the following:

• There will be a range of activities, performances and cultural offerings in the Fan Zone
• Participating stakeholders include the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Al Rayyan Sports Club, Al Arabi Sports Club and Al Sadd Sports Club
• Food and beverage trucks will be available
• Activities include: bull rodeo, bungee trampoline, football billiards, 1-on-1 football, kick point and various others
• Other entertainment will include a DJ, dancers and football freestylers
• There will be performances from various community groups, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, Palestine and Sudan
• Fans are encouraged to visit the Fan Zone after the match in order to give people time to board the Doha Metro

Transportation

Traffic in and around Al Rayyan Venue is expected to be heavy in the lead-up to the match. In addition, Doha Metro will experience many more passengers than usual. Fans are advised to arrive early and visit the Mall of Qatar or attend the Fan Zone before making their way to the stadium.

Fans are encouraged to travel by metro, car or taxi to the stadium. Al Riffa Station is just a five-minute walk to Al Rayyan Venue. It will take approximately 30 minutes to travel from central Doha to Al Riffa Station. Services will begin at 2 PM, with the last train leaving Al Riffa Station at midnight. Fans should expect longer waiting times than usual to board the metro, which will be operating at 30% capacity. Passengers are advised to spend time at the Fan Zone or Mall of Qatar both before and after the match in order to avoid long queues. Fans are encouraged to buy a travelcard in advance for a one-off cost of QAR 10. Single journeys on the metro are QAR 2. Travelcards can be bought online or in-person at many outlets across Qatar.

For fans travelling by car, free parking will be available close to the stadium. The QR code on your match ticket will direct you to the relevant parking zone. Car parks will be open from 4 PM until two hours after the match. Fans travelling by car are recommended to arrive early and take their time getting home after the match, in order to avoid traffic.

In addition to parking close to the stadium, a park and ride service will be operational from Education City, with buses leaving every two minutes for Al Rayyan Venue.

A dedicated taxi area will also be available at the Mall of Qatar from 4 PM until two hours after the match. Fans travelling to the match by taxi are also recommended to come early, then spend time in the Mall of Qatar or Fan Zone after the match to avoid queues for a taxi ride home.

Disabled fans should note that Doha Metro is fully accessible and a great option to get to Al Rayyan Venue. If travelling by car, accessible parking is available for those that have booked a space.

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