Qatar due to make end of year decision on World Cup stadia

Qatar hopes to decide on the final number of stadia that it will use when hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup by the end of this year, according to a Qatar organising committee spokesperson.

Having included plans for 12 stadia in its original bid to host the event, Qatar has since indicated that it would scale back its building to a possible eight venues.

"The final number of stadiums is still to be confirmed, but it is expected a decision will be reached towards the end of 2015," said a spokesman for the Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, which is responsible for the delivery of all tournament-related infrastructure.

The country is set to spend more than $200 billion on infrastructure as part of a 2030 development plan, a timeframe that includes hosting the World Cup in November-December 2022.

However, corruption allegations at world football governing body FIFA have put renewed media focus on Qatar, although Qatari officials remain confident the tournament will go ahead as planned.

The five stadiums that have already been announced are a mixture of new builds and rebuilds of existing grounds.

Four - Al Rayyan, Khalifa International, Qatar Foundation and Al Wakrah stadiums - will have tournament capacities of 40,000 and will be used for matches up to and including the quarter-final stage of the World Cup.

The fifth, Al Bayt Stadium, will hold 60,000 spectators and will host at least one semi-final.

The organisers have yet to reveal plans for the stadium that will stage the tournament final.

To date, main contractors have been appointed for two venues.

With an area of 11,600 kilometre², Qatar will be the smallest country to host the FIFA World Cup. 

Image shows the Al Wakrah stadium.

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