The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has invited companies to prequalify for the project management contract for the first of nine new stadiums planned for hosting the World Cup.

Firms have until 14 May to submit prequalification entries for the contract to provide project management, design management, commercial management and construction management consultancy services for a stadium that will be used to host the World Cup in 2022. The project management deal is for a minimum period of 10 years.

Qatar will spend $4bn on building nine new stadiums and upgrading the upgrading the existing Al-Rayyan, Al-Gharafa and Khalifa stadiums in preparation for hosting the event. The largest new stadium planned is the Lusail Iconic Stadium, which will have a capacity of more than 86,000 people and is to be used for the opening and closing matches.

The opening of the prequalification for the football stadium follows the recent approach to contractors to express interest in building the Al-Thumama multi-purpose sports hall at the Lusail development to the north of Doha.

The project involves building a 19,132-seater multi-purpose hall with 16,432 fixed and 2,700 retractable seats for basketball, volleyball and handball games. It will have a basement and five above ground levels, with a mezzanine between the ground and the first floor. The built-up area is 107,650 square metres.

The Al-Thumama multi-purpose hall is the second Olympic facility that contractors have been approached for this year. In February, contractors were asked to express interest in construction contracts for a new venue at the Al-Sadd sports club, close to the Al-Waab intersection in Doha.