Lusail Stadium, delivered for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, was the tournament’s centrepiece venue and its largest stadium. It hosted both the opening fixture and the final, and forms a central part of the wider masterplan for the new city of Lusail. AFL Architects was part of the international team responsible for developing and optimising the original concept design. Working with experts across 10 countries, our team undertook a full technical and creative review, identifying opportunities to streamline the floorplate and improve internal efficiency while maintaining capacity and meeting FIFA and Qatar Supreme Committee requirements. The project required the coordination of one of the largest BIM models attempted at the time, challenging our team to establish new protocols for design management and clash detection. On-site roles were also undertaken to supervise delivery and support integration across the technical teams. Completed in 2021, the stadium’s muted gold façade and engineered roof form a striking yet functional structure, designed to provide shade while admitting sufficient daylight to sustain the pitch. Internally, AFL coordinated with interior designers on the detailed delivery of hospitality, concourse and back-of-house areas, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. In addition, AFL was commissioned to design the FIFA tournament overlay for the precinct. This work defined the allocation of zones, crowd modelling, logistics and security measures, and ensured the site could operate effectively during the event while supporting long-term legacy use. Lusail Stadium now stands as both an international venue of significance and a key component in the long-term development of the city.