The World Cup is here! Made-in-China products are providing strong support for the Qatar World Cup.

Chinese company builds World Cup stadium, setting multiple industry records.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup kicked off on the 20th at the Al Bayt Stadium. From the match venues and water supply networks to power supply guarantees, Chinese-made products have provided strong support for the Qatar World Cup.

Stadiums are essential infrastructure that cannot be missing from the World Cup. In Qatar, several stadiums have involved Chinese companies in their design and construction. Among them, Lusail Stadium—the main stadium for the Qatar World Cup—is the first World Cup stadium project undertaken by a Chinese company as the general contractor for both design and construction, and it has set numerous industry records.

Li Zhongyang, head of the Chinese enterprise responsible for the design and construction general contracting of Lusail Stadium: Lusail Stadium is currently the world’s most advanced, largest-scale, and most complex-systemically structured professional football stadium built to FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) standards.

Hassan Al-Sawadi, Secretary-General of the Qatar World Cup Organizing Committee: Lusail Stadium boasts the most complex facade and roof structure, demonstrating that Chinese enterprises possess both the technological expertise and service standards necessary to successfully complete this intricate stadium project.

Made in China ensures water security, making desert viewing no longer a challenge.

Qatar is a country where “water is more valuable than oil.” To ensure water security during the World Cup, Qatar has built 15 massive reservoirs at five locations across the country—and Chinese-made equipment has played a key role in this effort.

Wang Shaohua, Project Manager for the Chinese enterprise’s mega-scale reservoir project in Qatar: Our construction technology has also reached the level of internationally advanced enterprises. Through technological breakthroughs, we have successfully resolved the challenges associated with concrete placement in high-temperature desert regions.

Kalisah Lingam, Site Director of the Qatar Strategic Reservoir Project: The Chinese companies have been responsible for a part of the construction that has been completed quickly and with high quality. They’ve successfully passed all engineering quality inspections, and so far, no problems have arisen at all. I think Chinese companies are simply the best.

Made in China Helps Qatar Build a “Green World Cup”

In Qatar’s new energy generation sector, Chinese-made products are also playing a leading role. The 800-megawatt Al Kharsa photovoltaic power plant, constructed by a Chinese enterprise, has significantly boosted the share of renewable energy in Qatar’s energy consumption, helping Qatar fulfill its commitment to hosting a “Green World Cup.”

Li Jun, Site Construction Manager for the Chinese enterprise’s project at the 800-megawatt Al Kassah photovoltaic power plant in Qatar: The entire 800-megawatt photovoltaic zone of this project utilizes Chinese equipment exclusively, which accounts for more than 60% of the project’s total investment, further boosting the market share of domestic brands in the Middle East.

Reporter Zhao Yuanyuan from the CCTV News Center: The Chinese-built and Chinese-made products, showcased in Qatar, have shone brightly, highlighting China’s position in the global industrial chain. It’s fair to say that—from venue construction and power and water supply to event-related services and supporting amenities—products made in China are contributing “Chinese strength” to the Qatar World Cup.

Made in China at the World Cup

In addition to the large stadiums and supporting utilities for water and electricity, at this World Cup, Chinese-made products can also frequently be seen in fans’ food, lodging, transportation, and daily life in Qatar.

Fan merchandise made in China—high-quality and affordable, highly favored.

Reporter Zhao Yuanyuan from the CCTV News Center: I’m currently inside a large shopping mall in Doha, and behind me is a specialty store selling merchandise related to the Qatar World Cup. At present, many malls across Qatar have set up specialty stores like this one, dedicated to World Cup-themed products.

This specialty store sells officially licensed FIFA World Cup 2022 merchandise, including soccer balls, jerseys, scarves, backpacks, hats, and more. Each soccer ball is priced at 79 Qatari riyals, equivalent to roughly 160 Chinese yuan, while most jerseys are sold for around 350 yuan. The majority of these products are made in China. Due to sales far exceeding expectations, the store recently placed additional orders.

Specialty store clerk Jafar Khan: About 60% of the products in our store are made in China—especially jerseys and backpacks, which almost entirely come from China. They’re of excellent quality, and customers really love Chinese products.

1,500 Chinese buses make travel to the World Cup more convenient.

During the World Cup, Chinese-made products have also played a significant role in both travelers’ transportation and accommodations across various countries. Let’s start with transportation: Qatar imported approximately 1,500 buses from China, including 888 all-electric buses, which account for more than 30% of the total fleet used to operate the World Cup.

Wei Yingpeng, an engineer dispatched by a Chinese enterprise to Qatar among the World Cup operational vehicles: Because the local temperature in Qatar is relatively high, this poses a challenge for the power batteries as well. Every day, we use our backend system to monitor in real time the battery charge levels and power consumption of 888 new-energy vehicles.

Ahmed Obaidli, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar National Transport Company: Chinese technical experts are working closely with us to develop vehicles tailored specifically for Qatar’s climate conditions, ensuring that the models are perfectly suited to the local environmental and operational conditions.

China-Made Fan Village: Convenient and More Affordable

To accommodate millions of fans, Qatar has set up six fan villages across the country. Chinese companies have provided more than 10,000 container-style homes for these fan villages. Here, a double room costs US$200 per night—roughly RMB 1,400—while prices at local star-rated hotels typically run into the thousands of U.S. dollars. By comparison, the fan villages are remarkably affordable.