Hundreds of people turned up at the site in Katara, which has a retractable roof and is cooled using a prototype of one of the systems that is being developed to use in stadiums and other public areas when it hosts the World Cup in 2022.

The 1,500 capacity fan zone was opened in time to allow fans to watch the round-of-16 ties at this year's World Cup in Brazil and began with the game between the hosts and Chile, which Brazil eventually went on to win via a penalty shoot-out.

The match kicked off at 7pm local time in Katara and organisers claim that while the temperature outside the fan zone was 33 degrees Celsius, inside it was 20 degrees Celsius.

The cooler temperature inside was achieved using four cooling columns located at strategic points within the venue, according to organisers.

The system works through dedicated ventilation units with jet nozzles restricting prevailing winds, while low level diffusers provide comfort for the spectators.

In addition, mechanically adjustable dampers regulate the air with an external weather station providing real time data while cooling mist is injected in to the venue, enhancing the evaporative cooling effect.

"With eight years to go before Qatar hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we are delighted to put into practice the latest cooling technology," said Ghanim Al Kuwari, who is the competition venue director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for Qatar 2022.

"We have worked hard to prove this technology is real and exists today.

"Qatar has already proved we can cool football stadiums.

"The next step is to demonstrate our capabilities of cooling open air public spaces.

"The Brazil 2014 fan zone is a key step on our journey to delivering an amazing fan and player experience in 2022."

Organisers say the system will be further enhanced and refined as other technologies are developed, and the data collected during this testing phase will help ensure that efficient cooling technology is in place for the World Cup.

One of the four cooling columns at the fan zone in Katara ©Qatar 2022



Qatar controversially won the right to host to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010 but its bid has been dogged by rumours of corruption and vote rigging.

In March the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy was forced to implement a new Workers' Welfare Standards charter after fierce criticism from international organisations on the welfare of migrant workers helping to construct the stadiums and infrastructure needed ahead of the Qatar World Cup.

The issue of player and fan safety has also been causing concern among the footballing fraternity.

Temperatures in the Gulf State can reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius during the summer months and has led to calls for the tournament to be staged in the winter of 2022, while some have urged FIFA to move the tournament to a different country altogether.

Earlier this year, Al Kuwari suggested organisers were considering cutting the number of proposed stadiums from 12 to eight despite promising to spend £2.4 billion ($4 billion/€2.9 billion) on building nine new stadia and refurbishing three as part of its overall £119 billion ($200 billion/€144 billion) spend on infrastructure for the tournament.

A decision on whether the World Cup will be moved from its traditional summer slot for 2022 is expected to be made next year, while details of a FIFA report into alleged cheating in the race to stage the tournament is due to be handed to its Adjudicatory Chamber later this month.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
June 2014: Plans revealed for new Qatar 2022 World Cup 60,000-seater stadium
May 2014: Second phase of construction underway at Al Wakrah Stadium in Qatar for 2022 FIFA World Cup
April 2014: Qatar 2022 considering cutting number of World Cup stadiums by third
March 2014: No decision on 2022 Qatar World Cup timing for at least a year, task force head confirms
January 2014: FIFA secretary general Valcke rules out Qatar 2022 summer World Cup