Lusail Sports Club starts delivering a World Cup legacy

In recent years, the Al Egla training facility in Lusail City has grown into a hive of activity.
Every week, young girls and boys from the city and beyond attend football training there because it is the location of Lusail Sports Club.
Al Egla is a prime illustration of Qatar’s tournament legacy because of its proximity to Lusail Stadium, which will hold the FIFA World Cup final on Qatar National Day and the Lusail Super Cup on September 9.
In addition to hosting Tunisia and the Korea Republic during the FIFA World Cup, which will take place from November 20 to December 18, it also offers a crucial communal resource for the Lusail city, which is constantly expanding.

Lusail SC has a senior team which currently competes in the Qatargas League – the tier below the top-flight Qatar Stars League – along with youth teams for players aged 3-23.
Nawaf al-Mudahka, President of Lusail SC, said community spirit runs through the club’s DNA.
“This is a community space – not just a sports club,” said al-Mudahka.“These world-class facilities are for the residents of Lusail.
“They bring people together from different cultures and nationalities to train here.
The players start from a very young age and can go all the way through to the first team.”
Ciaran Kelly, Lusail SC’s Technical Director, explained how the club had thrived thanks to its link-up with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) – the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure and legacy for Qatar 2022.
“Through a partnership with the SC, we were able to use the facilities here at Al Egla. We currently have 600 players in the academy, with some as young as three,” said Kelly.“We are so fortunate to use Al Egla – which gives the entire Lusail community access to a World Cup training site.”
The young players who train at Al Egla every week are in awe of the facilities.
“It’s crazy to think there will be famous players playing on this exact pitch.
I can’t believe that Neymar or Messi will be training here,” said Jada Alami, who plays for the girls’ U16s team.
Sanjar Ovezob, from the boys’ U17s team, said: “The pitch is perfect – playing here is comfortable and easy. It’s one of the best facilities I’ve played at.”
Al Egla and more than 30 more practice facilities will serve as the foundation for Qatar’s small-scale tournament preparations.
The FIFA World Cup will have players staying and training in the same location for the first time in modern times, allowing for more downtime.
The event’s condensed format will also assist spectators by allowing them to witness more than one game per day in the preliminary rounds.
Visit www.lfa.qa for further information about Lusail SC.