Khalifa International Stadium, one of the major venues for the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022, is likely to open by the second quarter of 2017, following extensive redevelopment, a top official has said.

According to a report by The Peninsula, Nasser Al Khater, the assistant secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) said that work is progressing on schedule on all projects related to the 2022 World Cup.

“Khalifa International Stadium will be the first stadium to be ready and will be opened by the end of second quarter. This will be followed by Al Khor and Al Wakrah stadiums that are slated to be completed by end of 2018,” he was quoted as saying.

“Now we are focusing on eight stadiums that would host the big matches, but final decision regarding the number of stadiums will be taken in May this year,” he added.

Furthermore, the Al Rayan and Qatar Foundation stadiums will open in 2019 while the remaining World Cup stadiums will be ready by the end of 2020.