Qatar stadium ready ‘by end of year’

DOHA: The Qatar World Cup venue designed by celebrated Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid will be finished by the end of 2018, officials responsible for the project said Tuesday.The 40,000 capacity, $575 million (465 million euros) Al-Wakrah Stadium is expected to be one of two further 2022 venues completed this year. Building work on the 60,000 Al-Bayt stadium is also expected to be completed by December.If so, it will mean Qatar — which is spending almost $500 million a week on World Cup projects — will have built almost half of its proposed eight venues with four years still to go to the tournament.