Qatar Sinks �138bn Into 2022 World Cup

The cost of hosting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is expected to reach �138 billion � with �28 billion alone spent on creating a new city which will host the opening match and the final. Lusail will be built in the East of Qatar, with the football stadium the focal point, 15 km north of Doha. The website set-up for the city � www.lusail.com � states that �the aim is to establish a distinctive 21st century iconic city which celebrates the special cultural and geographical heritage of Qatar and the Gulf Region�. It will have a population of 200,000. Dr Nicola Ritter, a German legal and financial analyst told an investors� summit held in Munich that of the �138 billion cost, stadiums and facilities would carry a bill of �107 billion while transport infrastructure would amount to �31 billion. The cost of air-conditioning 12 stadia will be around �30 billion, with a further �48 billion allocated for training facilities and accommodation for players and fans. Transport improvements include expanding the New Doha International Airport and constructing the new Doha port where it is planned some fans will be accommodated on cruise ships, according to a report in Construction News.