Education City Stadium complete for FIFA World Cup

Liam Watson

Qatar has announced that Education City Stadium is complete as the third venue ready for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Successful completion of the stadium was done by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy SC and the frontline workers were praised for the efforts despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Education City Stadium, located in Doha, follows the redevelopment of Khalifa International Stadium in 2017 and the introduction of Al Janoub Stadium last year. These three venues are expected to join Al Rayyan Stadium and Al Bayt Stadium as fellow completed stadiums by the end of this year.

Education City Stadium is also commonly known as the ‘Diamond in the Desert’ and has a capacity of 40,000. Located within Qatar Foundation’s Education City and the heart of their education hub, it is the first World Cup venue to achieve a five-star sustainability rating – as judged by the Global Sustainability Assessment System.

“The completion of Education City Stadium is yet another milestone as we inch ever closer to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world,” H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC, said.

“Launching the stadium now – while the world is overcoming the coronavirus pandemic – shows everyone that there is light at the end of the tunnel and brighter days ahead.

“We are proud to pay tribute to the frontline workers who remain at the forefront in the battle against Covid-19 and look forward to bringing the world together – at this stadium and others – using the unifying power of football in 2022.”

Education City Stadium will host matches up to the the quarter-finals stage of the World Cup. Once the tournament is done, it is planned that the seating capacity will be reduced by half to 20,000 after the modular upper tier is removed.

The SC will look to donate any excess seats to countries that lack the appropriate sporting infrastructure – ensuring that resources used for the upcoming World Cup doesn’t go to waste.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is scheduled to begin on November 21st and concludes on December 18th.

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Chelsea and Tottenham Arrive in Sydney as Premier League Giants Launch Australian Pre-Season Tour

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Image Credit: Chelsea FC

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have touched down in Sydney ahead of their pre-season tour of Australia for the Sydney Super Cup. Both clubs have wasted little time settling into life in Sydney, beginning preparations for a busy week of training sessions, fan events and pre-season fixtures.

The London rivals will each face A-League opposition before meeting meeting in the marquee fixture of the tour at Accor Stadium, bringing two of England’s biggest clubs to Australian shores as they build towards the 2026-27 Premier League season.

For Chelsea, the tour represents the first opportunity for supporters to see new manager Xabi Alonso lead the Blues. Meanwhile, Spurs fans will be eager to see improvements from Roberto De Zerbi’s men following their narrow escape from relegation last season.

Chelsea will open their tour against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday 28 July, while Tottenham will face Sydney FC on Wednesday 29 July, before the clubs meet in the headline fixture of the tour on Saturday 1 August.

The clash will mark the first time the London rivals have faced each other outside the UK. The tour is another sign of Australia’s growing stature as a destination for elite European clubs during the northern hemisphere off-season

With Chelsea and Tottenham among the Premier League’s biggest global brands, the fixtures are expected to attract strong crowds and give Australian football fans a rare opportunity to watch top-flight English footballers in person.

The tour will also feature the Chelsea Women’s team, which will take on the A-League Women’s All Stars in a showcase fixture on Wednesday 12 August.

Football Australia Chairman Reflects on Socceroos World Cup Campaign, Points to Reform Agenda Ahead

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Image Credit: Football Australia

Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac has released a statement reflecting on the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, which ended in a penalty shootout loss to Egypt in the Round of 32 on 3 July.

Isaac thanked the players, coaching staff, medical and performance teams, and volunteers who supported the campaign, saying they represented the country with professionalism, humility and pride.

He said the tournament had brought Australians together across every state, culture and generation, calling it one of the few sporting moments capable of uniting the country.

Isaac linked the campaign to Football Australia’s broader governance work, pointing to the organisation’s recently announced reform agenda and the Enduring Principles adopted last year: Better Access to Football for All, More Football, Better Football, More People Enjoying Football, and Winning Football.

He said those principles, together with the organisation’s values of Welcome, Ready, Connect, Excel and Protect, formed the basis for every decision Football Australia makes.

“World Cups do not define our leadership,” Isaac said, adding that they instead reveal progress made long before a ball is kicked.

He said Football Australia’s responsibility extended beyond preparing for the next tournament to strengthening the institution that supports every tournament that follows.

Isaac said progress in a sporting ecosystem of Australian football’s scale depends less on any single body’s authority than on the willingness of clubs, federations, leagues and government to align around shared goals.

He said the organisation would study the lessons of the campaign carefully and continue refining its approach.

“Adaptability is not changing direction with every headline,” Isaac said. “It is improving the path while remaining true to the destination.”

Isaac framed his own role in terms of long-term stewardship, saying the game should be left in a stronger position for the generations that follow than it was for those who built it.

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