Full name:
Al Shaab Stadium
Nickname(s):
The People Stadium
Location:
Baghdad
Built:
1966
Opened:
1966
Owner:
Former names:
Tenants:
Capacity:
60,000
Facts & History
Al Shaab Stadium (Arabic: ستاد الشعب) also known as The People's Stadium[1], is a multi-use stadium in Baghdad, Iraq. It is used mostly for football (soccer) matches and is the home of the Iraq national football team. The stadium has seating for 45,000 fans.[2] It was built in 1966. The opening match featured Iraq and Benfica, for whom Eusébio was playing.
Coordinates: [show location on an interactive map] 33°19′29.53″N 44°26′7.09″E / 33.3248694, 44.4353028 Al Shaab Stadium. Al Shaab Stadium is a multi-use stadium (Olympic) in Baghdad, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium was a gift to the Iraqi government by a business man who was a key person in Iraqi oil trade in 1950’s and 1960’s. Al Shaab stadium is the home ground of the Iraqi football National team, and it was opened in 1966, the opening game was between Iraq national team and Benfica Football Club from Portugal for whom the legendary Eusébio was playing at these days and he was part of the team during the match. The Iraqi National team did not play in the stadium any international fixture for more than two decades due to security reasons (80’s Iraq- Iran war, 1990 till mid 1990’s embargo and other sanctions on Iraq, 2003 till date Otc. 2008 USA invasion); in 2003 USA invasion to Iraq the stadium was turned to an army base by the United States Army and the stadium was re-qualified in 2007 and national football fixture started taking place since 2007 (FIFA nor any other international organization inspect the stadium to approve it due to security reasons). In 2007 – 2008 Season the League final was between Zawra’a and Arbeel, the match had a record attendance for the new century of 50,000 ended up with Arbeel winning the title.
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