The 41 training sites for the teams that will participate in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are already showcasing their legacy value, with pilot usage phase well underway ahead of the official launch.
Several national teams including the Algerian team that won the African Cup of Nations in July have already used the sites. The sites also be used before the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in December.
Each training facility for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will consist of two FIFA-compliant floodlit natural grass pitches, ancillary team facilities, team parking and spectator areas for public training sessions.
Ahmed Al Obaidly, Training Sites Project Manager at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), explained: "Each training site has two natural grass pitches with a three metre auxiliary area around and a five metre gap between the pitches to guarantee the safety of the players."
He continued: "The field of play in the training sites resembles the pitches at FIFA World Cup stadiums with same type and quality of playing surface, profile, irrigation and drainage system. These can be used any time of the day during the tournament as they are equipped with floodlighting to light up the entire site evenly."
The training facilities are an important pillar of the team base camps, a mandatory FIFA World Cup hosting concept which includes training facilities and a hotel located in close proximity to each other. Each of the participating teams have their own team base camps during the FIFA World Cup.
Al Obaidly emphasised that the three years leading up to the tournament will give the SC plenty of time to pilot different uses for the training sites and ultimately highlight the legacy use of this state-of-the-art sporting infrastructure.
Teams that have already used the pitches include the Qatar national team, Taipei, Iran, Palestine, Kazakhstan, the Qatar Rugby Federation and Al Fohood Sports Academy from Oman.
Some of the chosen locations include Qatar University, Doha Golf Course, Al Sailiya and Onaiza, with public sports grounds included in the legacy planning for the facilities.
The extensive infrastructure at each site also includes dressing rooms, a press conference area, a catering and lounge area, information technology and communications networks and broadcast and media facilities.