Qatar Rail has announced that almost five million passengers relied on the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025, underscoring the central role of public transport in delivering major global sporting events in Qatar.
Okay News reports that between December 1 and 18, 2025, a total of 4,924,919 passengers used the two rail networks, with 4,712,758 travellers recorded on the metro system and 212,161 passengers on the Lusail Tram.
This translated to a daily average of 273,606 passengers across both networks.
Qatar Rail said the transport systems were instrumental in moving fans, officials and visitors smoothly between stadiums, fan zones and major destinations across the country, while maintaining high standards of safety, reliability and operational efficiency.
The Arab Cup Qatar 2025 was staged across six venues, including Lusail Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, and Stadium 974.
Five of these stadiums were located within walking distance of metro stations, while Al Bayt Stadium was served by dedicated shuttle buses operating from Lusail QNB Metro Station, ensuring seamless connectivity for spectators.
Similarly, all three decisive fixtures of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 were held at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, which is directly linked to Al Riffa Mall of Qatar Metro Station, on December 10, 13 and 17.
Operational data released by Qatar Rail shows that 48,422 train trips were completed during the 18-day period, comprising 41,843 metro trips and 6,579 tram trips, reflecting sustained high-frequency services throughout the tournaments.
Usage figures revealed that 34 percent of match attendees travelled to stadiums by metro overall, with metro usage rising to 50 percent at stadiums directly connected to metro stations.
The highest single-day ridership was recorded on December 18, which coincided with Qatar National Day, the Arab Cup final and the third-place playoff, when 357,287 passengers were transported. Of that number, 347,987 travelled by metro and 9,300 by tram.
According to Qatar Rail, DECC, Lusail QNB, and Msheireb stations emerged as the busiest metro stations during the tournaments, while Legtaifiya Station recorded the highest traffic on the Lusail Tram network.
The company said the successful delivery of transport services during both tournaments was the result of extensive advance planning, strong operational readiness and close coordination with national stakeholders.
Qatar Rail added that the period also served as a platform for strengthening the capacity of young Qatari engineers and national cadres, who were deployed across operational sites to support real-time transport management.
Qatar Rail noted that the experience has further reinforced Qatar’s reputation for delivering world-class mobility solutions during major international events, while supporting the country’s broader goals around sustainable transport and national workforce development.
