Korea-Brazil Match '974' Stadium, Built for 420 Billion Won, Now Demolished...

'Eco-Friendly Temporary Stadium' Built for the World Cup
974 Containers to Be Donated to Other Countries

The 2022 Qatar World Cup Round of 16 match between South Korea and Brazil held at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] The 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar, where the 2022 Qatar World Cup round of 16 match between the South Korean national football team and Brazil was held, has begun demolition.

Portuguese media Record and other foreign outlets reported on the 7th (Korean time) that "Qatari authorities started demolition work on the morning of the 7th, the day after the South Korea-Brazil match, by removing the waterproof covers of the 974 Stadium and cleaning the surrounding area."

◆Name Removed from Subway Map... Containers Donated

With the start of demolition work, the stadium's name was removed from the subway route map, and the actual dismantling of the stadium will proceed in earnest after the tournament ends.

The 974 Stadium was an eco-friendly temporary stadium built exclusively for the Qatar World Cup, inspired by Qatar's international telephone country code 974, and constructed using recyclable building materials and 974 shipping containers.

The media reported, "The South Korea-Brazil match was the last game held at the 974 Stadium, and among the three stadiums to be demolished and rebuilt after this tournament, the 974 Stadium was the first to begin dismantling."

◆Construction Cost 415.8 Billion KRW... South Korea-Brazil Was the Last Match

The construction cost of the 974 Stadium was about 300 million euros, equivalent to 415.8 billion Korean won, with a seating capacity of 44,089. Last year, it hosted six matches of the FIFA Arab Cup as a test event. During the Qatar World Cup, a total of seven matches were played here: six group stage matches and the round of 16 match between South Korea and Brazil.

Earlier, there were expectations that the 974 Stadium might be reused for the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, but the authorities decided to proceed with demolition as planned. According to the Qatar World Cup organizing committee, most of the 974 large containers used in the stadium will be donated.

Foreign media reported that the likely recipients are underdeveloped African countries, but Uruguay, which is actively pursuing a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, has entered the competition to acquire the containers. Uruguayan media El Pais recently reported, "Uruguay plans to build a 2030 World Cup stadium using the construction materials and containers from the 974 Stadium."

Meanwhile, the Al Bayt Stadium, where the opening match was held, will be converted into a hotel, and the Lusail Stadium, where the final was played, will be demolished and transformed into a school, caf?, and sports center.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.