‘Accidental Vagina:’ Qatar’s new football stadium sparks controversy

The design is supposed to resemble the sails of a dhow boat which was traditionally used for pearl fishing by Qataris. (Photo courtesy: Aecom)

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Cringe-inducing it may be, but the design of Qatar’s recently unveiled World Cup 2022 stadium has proven to be worth talking about.

The artificial rendering of the al-Wakrah stadium was meant to look like a boat, but instead it’s been dubbed the “accidental vagina” in the press this week.

“The Qatari stadium’s resemblance to a woman’s private parts may be unintentional, but I for one applaud it,” wrote Holly Baxter in the Guardian.

The feminist website Jezebel commented: “Any discerning human will be quick to recognize that the building looks exactly like an enormous vagina.”

This is not what the architects intended. The design is supposed to resemble the sails of a dhow boat which was traditionally used for pearl fishing by Qataris.