Khalifa International Stadium, the home of Qatar’s national team, will host three additional matches during the FIFA Club World Cup 2019™ after the official opening of Education City Stadium was postponed until early 2020.
In addition to the double-header of games on 17 December – the fifth-place play-off and the semi-final involving CONMEBOL Libertadores winners CR Flamengo – Khalifa International Stadium will also host the second semi-final, involving UEFA Champions League winners Liverpool FC on 18 December, along with the final and the third-place play-off on 21 December.
Khalifa International Stadium has a capacity of 45,416 and reopened in May 2017 following a successful redevelopment to prepare it for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The stadium is fully operational at present and has hosted large crowds during the ongoing Arabian Gulf Cup. It is also just a short walk from the nearest Doha Metro station, making it easy for fans to get to and from the venue.
Construction at Education City Stadium is complete and the venue is now operational. However, the necessary certification process took longer than expected and therefore the stadium was unable to host the required test events prior to the semi-final and final of the FIFA Club World Cup at full capacity. The priority is to ensure an enjoyable experience for all fans so it was decided to open the stadium at a later date.