The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has invited companies to prequalify for a contract to provide lead consultancy and master planning services for the first of the new stadiums planned for hosting the World Cup.

Companies have until 14 May to submit prequalification entries for the consultancy contract for a stadium that will be used to host the World Cup in 2022.

This is the second contract for the first stadium that the Supreme Committee has invited firms to submit interest in. The committee has also invited companies to prequalify for the project management contract for the planned stadium. Project management firms also have until 14 May to submit prequalification entries.

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.