Brazil's victory over South Korea in the Round of 16 marked the end of Qatar's Stadium 974 on the World Cup stage. The stadium, known as Ras Al Abang Stadium, with its unique design and short lifespan, has disappeared from view before the World Cup has even come to an end.
Ras Abu Abang Stadium, named after its "974", not only represents Qatar's international telephone area code, but also means that the stadium is assembled from 974 containers. The stadium, which has been under construction since 2017, is not only creative in its containerized patchwork design, but also features movable seats, bleachers and restrooms, which can be assembled like building blocks to ultimately accommodate 40,000 spectators.
In this World Cup, Stadium 974 witnessed six group stage matches and one Round of 16 match. The match between Brazil and South Korea became the stadium's curtain-raiser. Officials released a poignant message about its departure, "974, both the area code of Qatar and the total number of cargo containers in the building, had a short-lived presence but left an everlasting legacy." The dismantled 974 will be given to countries or regions in need to help them build smaller venues, while its original site will be turned into a new entertainment district with restaurants and shopping.
