The Lusail Stadium failed its first test in epic fashion.
The venue is set to host 10 matches in the 2022 World Cup, including the final, and was just completed in time to open for the tournament in Qatar.
On Friday, the 80,000-seat stadium hosted its first ever game, dubbed the Lusail Super Cup, which pitted Saudi side Al Hilal against Zamalek of the Egyptian Premier League.
According to multiple reports, there were a myriad of problems, including but not limited to: inadequate transportation to the venue, the exhaustion of the stadium’s water supply by halftime, lack of air conditioning amid stifling heat, and an inadequate amount of bathrooms.
Not great.
The game was a near sellout, with 77,575 fans attending, but many of those fans experienced adverse conditions that won’t bode well for the World Cup just two months ahead of kickoff.
According to Doha News, there was a serious lack of shuttle buses available for fans who used parking lots in the vicinity of the stadium. One family told the outlet that they were forced to walk 45 minutes in temperates of 95 degrees Fahrenheit that felt even hotter due to the humidity.
Reuters reported that stadium vendors ran out of water by halftime and there was none outside — a scenario that would never be acceptable but one that was even more of a problem due to the heat and humidity.
One father told Doha News that he couldn’t find water for his five-year-old daughter, and a gracious stadium volunteer had given him his own personal supply.
“I will forever be grateful for that young man because I can’t imagine what I would’ve done if he didn’t help. But not everyone is as lucky as I am. What will we do during the World Cup? I don’t want to even go anymore,” he said.
Another fan told Doha News that they spent 20 minutes looking for women’s bathrooms, with “clueless” volunteers at the stadium unable to help.
A spokesperson for the World Cup organizing committee told Reuters that the game was meant as a test to identify areas for improvement before the World Cup.
In that sense at least, Lusail Stadium’s opening game was certainly a success.
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