Qatar brings first new World Cup stadium to life as FIFA mulls expansion

Soccer Football - Al Sadd v Al-Duhail - Qatar Emir Cup Final - Al Wakrah Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar - May 16, 2019 General view during the opening ceremony before the match REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari

DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar inaugurated the first of seven new World Cup 2022 stadiums on Thursday, just weeks before a crucial FIFA summit will decide whether to expand the tournament and potentially push it beyond the tiny Gulf state's borders to accommodate a larger format.

Fans packed into the Al Janoub stadium, a 40,000 seat venue made to resemble the sail of a dhow, or traditional wooden sailboat, to cheer on Qatari teams playing in the final of the Emir Cup, a local tournament for the country's club sides.