With a relatively small population of just under three million people, Qatar has had to heavily invest in new stadium infrastructure ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Eight stadiums will be used throughout the tournament but the construction of those venues has not come cheaply.
The Sporting News takes you through the costs and details of Qatar's fresh batch of stadiums.
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How many new World Cup stadiums have been built for Qatar?
Out of the eight stadiums for the upcoming World Cup, seven have been built brand-new.
After winning the right to host the tournament in 2010, Qatar began the construction of new stadiums in 2014.
They gradually began to open in the years following, with the Al Janoub Stadium the first off the rank in 2019.
The Khalifa International Stadium is the only existing stadium set to be used for the tournament.
However, it underwent development in 2014, boosting its capacity to over 40,000.
Four of the Qatar 2022 stadiums are located outside the Doha city area, whilst the other four are situated in Doha.
The proximity of the stadiums will likely ease any travel concerns for teams, with Al Bayt Stadium the furthest from the city centre at a relatively short 40km.
How much did the World Cup stadiums cost?
The ongoing total cost for all eight World Cup stadiums stands at approximately US$6.5 billion, according to Sky News.
This is despite suggestions from Qatari officials that $10 billion may have been needed to complete the full venue construction.
The aforementioned Khalifa International Stadium was one of the cheaper projects, only requiring redevelopment in 2014.
| Stadium | Cost (USD)* |
|---|---|
| Al Bayt Stadium | $847m |
| Lusail Stadium | $767m |
| Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium | $360m |
| Al Janoub Stadium | $572m |
| Education City Stadium | $700m |
| Stadium 974 | Unknown |
| Khalifa International Stadium | $78-315m |
| Al Thumama Stadium | $342m |
*Based on reported figures.
Are World Cup stadiums air-conditioned?
The 2022 World Cup starts begins on November 20 in Qatar when temperatures typically begin to fall heading into winter.
However, it is still expected to be hot in the country, with early group games set to be the hottest with highs of 26-28°C (78-82°F) possible.
To combat this, Qatari officials have confirmed that all eight stadiums involved in the competition will be air-conditioned.
The technology has been developed alongside Qatar University, with solar energy used to power an air filtering system.
Dr Saud Abdulaziz Abdul Ghani, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Qatar University, has lead the project.
"We are not just cooling the air, we're cleaning it," Dr Saud said in an interview with FIFA.com.
"We're purifying the air for spectators. For example, people who have allergies won't have problems inside our stadiums as we have the cleanest and purest air in there is.
"Pre-cooled air comes in through grills built into the stands and large nozzles alongside the pitch. Using the air circulation technique, cooled air is then drawn back, re-cooled, filtered and pushed out where it is needed."
Temperatures inside Qatar's air-conditioned stadiums are expected to sit around 21°C (70°F).
Which stadium will host the World Cup final?
Lusail Stadium has been selected to host the 2022 World Cup final.
Located north of Doha, 80,000 fans are expected to fit in the venue for the decider.
On top of the final, the stadium will host three knockout games throughout the tournament.
