This year was meant to be the year where all of the chatter about Qatar’s FIFA 2022 World Cup win turned into something more concrete – literally. The organising body unveiled the first of its stadium projects – Al Wakrah ground designed by Zaha Hadid Architects – in November, when Al Thawadi told the gathered ranks that it would begin the process for building five of its stadiums by the end of 2014. So far, it seems to have delivered. Consultancy and project management deals for the first two – Al Wakrah and Al Rayyan – have already been signed, and tenders to project manage the 80,000-seat flagship Lusail Iconic Stadium were due to close last week.