Get a Taste of the FIFA World Cup™ Experience: Make Your Qatar Journey More Exciting than Ever with Top Activities

You can still get a real taste of the FIFA World Cup experience in Qatar: stand inside Lusail Stadium where Argentina won the 2022 final, walk through the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum at Khalifa International Stadium, ride the Doha Metro lines that carried more than a million fans, and spend a match night in a stadium that now hosts league and continental football. The tournament ended in December 2022, but the eight stadiums, the fan districts and the transport built for it are still there, and most of them are open to visitors in some form.

This guide is for football fans and curious travellers who want the World Cup side of Qatar. It covers the stadiums, the neighbourhoods around them and the best ways to watch live football in Doha today. For the general sightseeing list (museums, beaches, desert trips), see our things to do in Qatar guide, and check the Qatar visa rules for your passport before you book.

How we built this list: We started from the eight 2022 World Cup venues and the fan areas around them, then kept only the places a visitor can actually reach and enjoy today, either on a tour, at a live match or by walking the district around the ground. Access to stadium interiors changes with the event calendar, so treat each visit as "check before you go" and confirm with the venue or Visit Qatar.

• World Cup stadiums: 8
• Matches played in 2022: 64
• Furthest venue from Doha: ~75 km
• Fan experiences here: 15

Where each World Cup experience in Qatar is and how to get there

Most of Qatar's World Cup experiences are on the Doha Metro: Lusail Stadium on the Red Line, and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Khalifa International Stadium and Aspire Park together in the Aspire Zone on the Gold Line. The table shows where each experience sits and what kind of visit to expect.

Most fans group the list by metro line: the Gold Line for Aspire Zone and the museum, the Green Line for Education City and Ahmad bin Ali, and the Red Line for Lusail and Al Bidda.

15 FIFA World Cup experiences in Qatar: full guide

Lusail Stadium, home of the 2022 final

Lusail Stadium is the largest venue Qatar built for the tournament, with a capacity of close to 89,000 during the World Cup. Its gold, bowl-shaped façade takes its pattern from the hand-crafted bowls and lanterns of the Arab world, and it glows at night when the exterior lighting is switched on. It hosted the opening Argentina v Saudi Arabia upset, the semi-final in which Argentina beat Croatia, and on 18 December 2022 the final, when Argentina beat France on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

Since the tournament, the stadium has been used for concerts, big matches and national events, and the upper tiers were planned to be partly converted for community use. Whether you can go inside depends on the event calendar, so check for a match, show or guided visit during your dates. Even from outside, the walk around the stadium plaza at sunset is worth the metro ride.

The stadium is in Lusail City, north of Doha, at Lusail QNB station on the Red Line. Fans who want to stand where Messi lifted the trophy should come around sunset or on an event night, then carry on to Lusail Boulevard.

3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

Opened in 2022 inside the Khalifa International Stadium complex, the 3-2-1 museum is one of the largest sports museums in the world. Its galleries cover the history of sport from ancient times to the modern Olympics, Qatar's own sporting story and the athletes who made it, with plenty of World Cup material on display. The name comes from a race start: three, two, one, go.

The highlight for many visitors is the hands-on area, where you can test your sprint start, balance and reaction times against athletes' records. Children love it, and adults end up competing too. Plan two to three hours, and check opening days before you go, because Qatar Museums venues keep a weekly closing day.

The museum is in Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, by Sport City station on the Gold Line, and is ticketed, so check Qatar Museums for current fees. Families do best on a weekday morning, when the interactive zone is close to empty.

Khalifa International Stadium

Khalifa International is the oldest of the World Cup grounds, first opened in 1976 and rebuilt for the tournament with a new roof, a cooling system and a sweeping arch on the east side. It hosted the 2006 Asian Games, the 2019 World Athletics Championships and, in 2022, the opening group match between England and Iran and the third-place play-off between Croatia and Morocco.

It is still Qatar's national stadium, used for international football and athletics, so the most reliable way in is a match ticket. The stadium sits next to the Torch Doha tower and the 3-2-1 museum, so a half day at Aspire Zone covers all three. Bring sunglasses: the white roof and paving reflect a lot of light in the afternoon.

Match nights or late afternoon are the times to come. Football history fans should look for Qatar national team fixtures during their dates.

Aspire Park and the sports district

Aspire Park is one of the largest green spaces in Doha, laid out around a lake beside the stadium, the Torch tower and the Villaggio mall. On cooler evenings it fills with families, joggers on the running loop and groups having picnics on the lawns, and teams training at the Aspire Academy, the sports school that produced several of Qatar's 2019 Asian Cup winners, are often visible nearby.

It is free, open daily and easy to reach by metro, which makes it a good pause between the museum and a match. Summer days are too hot for a walk at midday, so come after sunset from May to September. There are playgrounds, kiosks and shaded benches, and the Villaggio mall next door has food courts and an indoor canal with gondolas.

Entry is free and evenings from October to April are the nicest time. Children enjoy it most; bring a picnic blanket and stay for the lights on the Torch tower.

Education City Stadium, the "Diamond in the Desert"

Education City Stadium earned its nickname from a façade of triangular panels that changes colour as the sun moves across it. It sits in the middle of Education City, the campus that houses branches of several international universities, and it hosted group games and a quarter-final in 2022, including the quarter-final in which Croatia knocked out Brazil on penalties.

The stadium now serves university sport and professional football, and part of its seating was planned for donation to projects abroad. Nearby, Oxygen Park offers walking and cycling paths through landscaped gardens, and the Qatar National Library, a striking building by Rem Koolhaas's OMA, is a short ride away on the same metro line.

Ride the Green Line to Education City station; the exterior can be seen anytime, and golden hour shows the façade at its best. Architecture fans can fill an afternoon by adding the library.

Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor

Al Bayt Stadium is shaped like a bayt al sha'ar, the black and white tent used by nomadic families in the Gulf, and the inside walls echo the red patterns of traditional tent fabric. It hosted the opening ceremony and the first match of the tournament, Qatar v Ecuador, on 20 November 2022, plus a semi-final. At around 60,000 seats during the World Cup, it was the second biggest venue.

Al Khor is about 35 kilometres north of central Doha and not on the metro, so you need a car, a taxi or a tour. Make a day of it: the parkland around the stadium has walking paths and playgrounds, and the Al Khor corniche, the mangroves of Al Thakhira and the fishing harbour are nearby. Check whether any event is on, as the stadium is not open for casual entry every day.

With the Al Khor sights it makes a half day, and road-trippers can add a kayak trip in the Al Thakhira mangroves that morning.

Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah

Al Janoub was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects with Aecom, and its curved roof takes its shape from the sails of the dhow boats that pearl divers once sailed out of Al Wakrah. It opened in 2019 and hosted seven matches in 2022. Its home side is Al Wakrah SC, so Qatar Stars League games are the usual way to see inside.

Al Wakrah is worth the trip on its own. The restored old souq on the waterfront has low stone buildings, seafood restaurants and a calm public beach, and it is far quieter than Souq Waqif. The stadium is a short taxi ride from Al Wakrah metro station on the Red Line.

Come in the late afternoon and stay for dinner at the souq. Design lovers should time it for sunset over the dhow-sail roof, then order grilled fish in Al Wakrah Souq.

Al Thumama Stadium

Al Thumama takes its round, white, latticed shape from the gahfiya, the woven cap Arab men wear under the ghutra headscarf. Qatari architect Ibrahim Jaidah designed it, which makes it the World Cup stadium most directly rooted in local design. It hosted eight matches up to the quarter-final stage, including Morocco's 1-0 quarter-final win over Portugal, the night Morocco became the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final.

The stadium sits between the airport and the city, so it is easy to fit in on your first or last day. It looks best at night, when the lattice is lit from inside. There are few cafés immediately around it, so plan food elsewhere.

The nearest station is Free Zone on the Red Line, with a taxi for the last stretch, and photographers will want to come after dark. It is a natural stop on the way to or from Hamad International Airport.

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium stands on the site of Al Rayyan SC's old ground, and its façade is covered in patterns that represent the dunes, plants and wildlife of Qatar's desert. It hosted group games and a round-of-16 match in 2022, and Al Rayyan, one of the best-supported clubs in the country, play their home games here.

For a visitor, this is the easiest World Cup stadium to experience as a normal football ground. Tickets for Qatar Stars League matches are cheap and easy to buy, the crowd includes local families and drummers, and the Mall of Qatar sits right next to the stadium for food before kick-off.

Al Riffa station on the Green Line serves both the stadium and the mall, and league tickets are low-cost. If you want a local match-day atmosphere, eat at Mall of Qatar first and walk across.

The Stadium 974 waterfront

Stadium 974 was built from shipping containers and modular steel, and it was the first fully demountable stadium in World Cup history. The name refers to the number of containers and to Qatar's international dialling code, +974. It stood at Ras Abu Aboud on the waterfront and hosted seven matches, including Brazil's round-of-16 win over South Korea.

The plan was always to take it apart after the tournament, so check the current state of the site before you travel. The reason to come here regardless is the view: Ras Abu Aboud looks straight across the bay at the West Bay skyline, one of the best sunset angles in Doha.

From Ras Bu Abboud station on the Gold Line it is a short taxi ride. Skyline photographers should bring a tripod for the blue hour across the bay.

Lusail Boulevard and Place Vendôme

Lusail Boulevard became one of the busiest fan areas of the tournament, a wide avenue lined with towers, light shows and big screens. Today it is Lusail City's main promenade, with cafés, seasonal events and illuminations in the cooler months. The Place Vendôme mall nearby, opened in 2022, adds hundreds of shops, a canal and an evening fountain show.

Lusail is a planned city still filling up, so some streets are quiet, but the boulevard is lively on weekend evenings from October to April. The Lusail Tram links the main districts with the metro, which makes getting around easy without a car.

Ride the Red Line to Lusail and change to the tram. Walking the boulevard is free, while the mall and cafés vary in price; Thursday and Friday evenings between October and April are busiest, and it makes an easy evening out after a stadium visit, so check listings for the light shows.

Al Bidda Park, home of the FIFA Fan Festival

Al Bidda Park hosted the official FIFA Fan Festival in 2022, with giant screens, concerts and tens of thousands of fans every night. It is now a large city park between the Corniche and the government district, with lawns, walking trails, children's play areas and space for seasonal festivals.

Walk from here along the Corniche towards the Museum of Islamic Art for one of Doha's best evening strolls, with the West Bay towers lit up across the water. In winter, the park hosts events and markets, so check what is on during your visit.

Al Bidda station on the Red and Green lines is right there, entry is free, and the cool evenings from November to March suit families and walkers. Start at sunset and finish on the Corniche.

Ride the Doha Metro fan route

The Doha Metro opened in 2019 with three lines, Red, Green and Gold, and during the World Cup it carried fans to all but one of the stadiums. It is clean, cold, punctual and very cheap, with standard, family and gold class carriages. For a visitor, it is the easiest way to link the World Cup sites in this guide in one or two days.

Buy a Travel Card at any station and top it up, or use a day pass if you are making several trips. Food and drink are not allowed on board. Free metrolink feeder buses run from many stations to nearby neighbourhoods, which helps with stadiums that are a short distance from the line.

Trains run from early morning to late night, starting later on Fridays, and the Red Line serves the airport. Budget travellers can ride it from Hamad International straight into the city.

Watch a live match in Doha

The best way to feel what the stadiums were built for is to go to a match. The Qatar Stars League season runs roughly from late summer to spring, with Al Sadd, Al Duhail and Al Rayyan among the biggest clubs, and games are played in several World Cup venues. Qatar also keeps hosting big tournaments: the AFC Asian Cup in January and February 2024, which Qatar won for the second time in a row, filled several of the 2022 grounds again.

League tickets are cheap and sold online or at the gate. Evening kick-offs avoid the heat, and the stadiums are all air-cooled. Crowds are family-friendly, alcohol is not sold, and modest dress is expected.

Tickets are sold online via the league or at the venue. A week before your trip, check the fixture list and pick an evening game.

Match night in a Souq Waqif café

When a big European or international game is on, the cafés of Souq Waqif put up screens and fill with fans of every nationality, many of whom live and work in Qatar. Watching a Champions League night here over karak tea and grilled meat, with arguments in a dozen languages around you, is the closest thing to the 2022 fan mood you will find today.

Arrive 30 minutes before kick-off to get a seat with a view. Many cafés set a minimum spend and charge no entry fee. For more food ideas nearby, see our guide to restaurants in Qatar.

Souq Waqif station on the Gold Line drops you at the door, and prices run low to mid. Choose a café that supports your team, because they do have favourites.

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A one-day World Cup stadium itinerary using the Doha Metro

Start at Sport City station on the Gold Line in the morning: the 3-2-1 museum, Khalifa International Stadium and Aspire Park are all within walking distance. After lunch at Villaggio, ride to Education City on the Green Line for the "Diamond in the Desert" and the Qatar National Library.

In the late afternoon, head to Al Bidda for a walk through the old fan festival park and along the Corniche. Finish at Lusail on the Red Line for sunset at the stadium and dinner on Lusail Boulevard. Al Bayt and Al Janoub need extra time, so keep them for a second day with a car or taxi.

Timing matters more than distance. The 3-2-1 museum opens later on Fridays, so this route works best on a weekday, and the walk around Aspire Zone is long and exposed, so start by 9am outside winter. Allow about two hours in the museum, an hour for lunch and the stadium exterior, and plan on the metro between Sport City and Education City with a change at Msheireb, where the Gold and Green lines meet. A day of metro travel stays well within the QAR 6 daily cap for Standard class. If a league match is on at any of these grounds that evening, swap the Lusail sunset for the game: tickets for domestic matches are inexpensive and sold online and at the stadium.

When to visit Qatar for football and fan events

The cooler months from November to March are the best time for walking between stadiums, attending outdoor events and enjoying evenings on the Corniche. Summer temperatures from June to September regularly pass 40°C, which makes daytime sightseeing hard, although air-cooled stadiums and malls stay comfortable. Qatar hosts major sporting events through the year, including tennis, motorsport at Lusail International Circuit and continental football, so check the calendar before booking flights to Doha.

The football calendar adds specific dates. The Qatar Stars League, the top domestic division, runs roughly from late summer to spring, with most matches in the evening. Qatar hosts the FIFA U-17 World Cup each year from 2025 to 2029; the 2026 edition runs from 19 November to 13 December 2026, with the main venue at the Aspire Zone complex and the final at Khalifa International Stadium, which makes late 2026 a good time for fans who want to see international matches in World Cup grounds. Outside football, the Qatar tennis tournaments fall in February, and Lusail International Circuit hosts Formula 1 and MotoGP rounds, which push hotel prices up on race weekends.

Book accommodation early for any of these weeks, and check whether your hotel offers a shuttle to the venue, since metro trains are very full before and after big events.

Tips for a football-themed trip to Qatar

Check league fixtures and venue listings two weeks before a football trip to Qatar, because stadium interiors open mainly for matches and events. Cover shoulders and knees at stadiums, museums and malls; team shirts are fine.

• Check event calendars. Stadium interiors open mainly for matches and events. Look at league fixtures and venue listings two weeks ahead.
• Dress for the venue. Cover shoulders and knees at stadiums, museums and malls. Team shirts are fine.
• Beat the heat. Plan outdoor stadium visits for early morning or after sunset, especially from May to September.
• Use the metro. Most venues are on or near a metro line. Taxis and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps.
• Eat before kick-off. Stadium food is limited for league games. Mall of Qatar and Villaggio are next to two of the grounds.

Buy tickets only through official channels, such as the event's own ticketing site or the club or federation, since resold tickets can be cancelled. Bags are searched at stadium entrances, and large bags, umbrellas and outside food are usually refused, so travel light. For a souvenir, the 3-2-1 museum shop and the big malls sell official Qatar 2022 merchandise and national team shirts.

Arrive at least an hour before kick-off for big matches: security lines and the walk from the metro to the gates take longer than expected, and fan zones around the stadium often open early with screens, music and food stalls.

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