Environmental Impact of Stadiums and Urban Greening in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar

This study examines the environmental impact of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on urban areas in Qatar, focusing on landscape transformation, urban greening, and mitigation of land surface temperature (LST). This study employs remote sensing data from Landsat and Google Earth to analyze vegetation dynamics and LST variations in Qatar before and after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. NDVI and LST metrics were derived using advanced processing techniques and spatial analysis, focusing on seven stadiums. Multi-ring buffers with 30-meter intervals enabled the assessment of cooling effects and vegetation changes around the stadiums, providing insights into the environmental impact of mega-event preparations. The findings highlight significant improvements in urban greening, with increased vegetation cover and cooling effects around the stadiums. These effects are most notable in areas with integrated green spaces, such as Education City Stadium and Khalifa International Stadium, where cooling distances extend to 200 meters. However, standalone stadiums like Lusail and 974 Stadium demonstrate localized but impactful cooling effects driven by innovative architectural designs and materials. The study underscores the dual benefits of mega-event infrastructure. Enhancing urban aesthetics and mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Policy recommendations include integrating green infrastructure, adopting sustainability standards for stadium designs, and aligning mega-event preparations with long-term urban development goals. These insights provide a model for arid regions, particularly Saudi Arabia, preparing to host future events like the FIFA World Cup in 2034. The study advocates for strategies that ensure sustainability in large-scale urban developments by balancing urban growth with environmental preservation.