FIFA World Cup 2022 will set new standards in stadium technology

The bulk of the Qatar tech team consists of Indians

When the Football World Cup begins in Qatar four days from today, fans will witness the most technologically advanced stadiums and experiences ever at a world cup. And almost 70% of the team delivering that technology constitutes Indians.

Kerala-born Niyas Abdulrahiman is the chief technology officer of Aspire Zone Foundation, the organisation tasked with developing the technology for the stadiums. The foundation had established an international sports destination called Aspire Zone in Doha, Qatar, in 2003, and this complex, which has made big advances over the years, was an important part of Qatar’s bid for the 2022 World Cup.

But in the run up to the World Cup, Abdulrahiman’s team has taken stadium technology to a whole new level. The team has used 5G and high-speed wi-fi to create “connected stadiums” that will all be managed remotely from a central command centre. The centre allows Abdulrahiman’s team to control every aspect of each of the eight stadiums where matches will be played.