Site works on the proposed host venue for the first and final matches of Qatar’s World Cup 2022 have started, according to a report.

The 80,000-seat Lusail stadium is the country’s sixth Fifa World Cup stadium project, said The National report.

The works will include the erection of 5 km of hoarding around the one million-sq-m site, as well as the erection of site facilities and offices, it said.

The final designs, which were being drawn up by British architecture firm Foster + Partners, are on track to be completed, while the main contract is yet to be appointed. The firm is working alongside the London-based stadium specialist Populous and engineering consultancy Arup, it added.

Meanwhile, Qatar is set to complete the first of its World Cup 2022 venues – the Khalifa International Stadium – by the end of next year. The reconstruction work at the stadium, located in the Aspire Zone, is progressing well with 90 per cent of the structural concrete (42,000 cu m) being laid and the remainder expected to be done in the next two months, reported Doha News.

Also, new seating levels have been added to boost the stadium’s capacity to 40,000.

The 40-year-old Khalifa Stadium is being remodelled mainly to meet Fifa regulations for the hosting group, round of 16 and quarter-final World Cup matches, said the report, citing the local organising committee officials. The seating areas will be covered by a “tent”, which will provide shade for around 70 per cent of the stadium. This is being fabricated in the US and assembled in Mexico, they stated. The concrete structure is being strengthened and is nearly at full-height, with the skeleton of the stadium expected to be complete by the end of this year.

On the arena’s east wing, there will be a building housing the new 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, which will include items and interactive exhibits demonstrating Qatar’s growing relationship with sports, said the report. The upper and lower levels of the wing will also feature food courts, shops, multi-purpose rooms, VIP lounges and a health centre, it added.

The Aspire Zone Foundation is leading the construction works on the project, while the main contractor is a joint venture comprising local contracting firm Midmac and a subsidiary of Belgium-headquartered Besix Group (Six Construct). Dar Al Handasah and Projacs are the design consultant and project manager, respectively.

Qatar has named eight locations for World Cup venues, although it has only released the designs for four of them, the report added.