Jinnah Sports Stadium

Jinnah Sports Stadium
Map
LocationIslamabad, Pakistan
Coordinates33°42′2″N 73°5′34″E / 33.70056°N 73.09278°E / 33.70056; 73.09278
Elevation536 metres (1,759 ft)
OwnerPakistan Sports Board
Executive suites26
Capacity48,700
Acreage45,000 sq. m
SurfaceNatural grass
Construction
Built1970s
ArchitectChina State Construction Engineering
Tenants
Pakistan national football team (1986–present)
Website
www.sports.gov.pk/index

Jinnah Sports Stadium (Urdu: جناح سپورٹس سٹیڈیم) is a multi-purpose stadium in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home venue for the Pakistan national football team. The stadium has a capacity of 48,700 people,[1] and is the largest stadium in Pakistan. The stadium is owned by the Pakistan Sports Board.[2] The stadium is part of the Pakistan Sports Complex which also houses a gymnasium sports complex for indoor sports.[3][4]

History

Early years

Named after Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the stadium was built in the 1970s by Chinese State Construction Engineering for hosting the 1978 Asian Games, which were ultimately shifted to Bangkok.[4][3] The Liaquat Gymnasium nearby was formally inaugurated as part of the complex when Pakistan played host to the seventh 1984 Asian Table Tennis Championships.[4]

Home of Pakistan football

In 1986, it hosted the 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Cup for football matches. The stadium was first renovated and used for the South Asian Games in 1989.[5] The stadium was again chosen as venue when Pakistan again hosted the event in 2004.[6] Apart from being one of the main venues of several national sports events such as the National Games of Pakistan,[7] Quaid-e-Azam Inter Provincial Youth Games,[8][9] or football events such as the Pakistan Premier League and the National Women Football Championship,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] the stadium has been a regular home venue for the Pakistan national football team since the 1980s. In 2014, the stadium hosted the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship for the Pakistan women national football team.[17]

Refurbishments

Panorama view

The stadium was first renovated to serve as host for the South Asian Games in 1989 with help of Chinese engineers.[5]

After years of inactivity due to the ban on Pakistan Football Federation by FIFA, the stadium served as host after 11 years since Pakistan ever held an international football event, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification on 17 October 2023, which resulted in Pakistan's first ever victory in a World Cup qualifying match against Cambodia. Due to the scarcity of stadiums in Pakistan meeting FIFA standards, the stadium was refurbished including the grass, goalposts.[18] For the matches at the next round, the stadium went more reforms upgrading the floodlights and seats.[19]

Football tournaments

1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Cup

The stadium was the venue for the 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Cup.[20]

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
25 April 1986 Pakistan Pakistan Green 1–0  Sri Lanka Group stage N/A
25 April 1986  China 5–0    Nepal Group stage N/A
26 April 1986 Pakistan Pakistan Green 1–0 South Korea South Korea XI Group stage N/A
26 April 1986 Pakistan Pakistan White 0–7  China Group stage N/A
27 April 1986    Nepal 2–2  Sri Lanka Group stage N/A
27 April 1986 Pakistan Pakistan White 0–4 South Korea South Korea XI Group stage N/A
28 April 1986 Pakistan Pakistan White 2–3  Sri Lanka Group stage N/A
28 April 1986 Pakistan Pakistan Green 0–3  China Group stage N/A
29 April 1986 South Korea South Korea XI 5–0    Nepal Group stage N/A
30 April 1986 South Korea South Korea XI 4–0  Sri Lanka Group stage N/A
30 April 1986 Pakistan Pakistan Green 7–0 Pakistan Pakistan White Group stage N/A
1 May 1986  China 3–0  Sri Lanka Group stage N/A
1 May 1986 Pakistan Pakistan White 0–2    Nepal Group stage N/A
2 May 1986 Pakistan Pakistan Green 5–0    Nepal Group stage N/A
2 May 1986  China 1–1 South Korea South Korea XI Group stage N/A

1989 South Asian Games

The stadium was the venue for the 1989 South Asian Games.[21]

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
20 October 1989  Maldives 0–0    Nepal Group stage N/A
21 October 1989  Bangladesh 3–0  Sri Lanka Group stage N/A
22 October 1989  Pakistan 0–0    Nepal Group stage N/A
23 October 1989  Bangladesh 1–1  India Group stage N/A
24 October 1989  Pakistan 2–0  Maldives Group stage N/A
25 October 1989  India 2–1  Sri Lanka Group stage N/A
26 October 1989  India 2–1    Nepal Bronze medal match N/A
26 October 1989  Pakistan 1–0  Bangladesh Gold medal match N/A

2014 SAFF Women's Championship

The stadium was the venue for the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship.

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
11 November 2014  Pakistan 1–2  Sri Lanka Group stage 6,500
12 November 2014  Nepal 8–0  Bhutan Group stage 2,000
13 November 2014  India 8–0  Maldives Group stage 250
13 November 2014  Bangladesh 6–1  Afghanistan Group stage 5,000
14 November 2014  Sri Lanka 3–0  Bhutan Group stage 500
14 November 2014  Pakistan 0–2  Nepal Group stage 1,700
15 November 2014  Maldives 1–0  Afghanistan Group stage 2,000
15 November 2014  India 5–1  Bangladesh Group stage 2,000
16 November 2014  Nepal 3–0  Sri Lanka Group stage 600
16 November 2014  Pakistan 4–1  Bhutan Group stage 4,000
17 November 2014  Afghanistan 0–12  India Group stage 2,000
17 November 2014  Maldives 1–3  Bangladesh Group stage 900
19 November 2014  India 5–0  Sri Lanka Semi-finals 2,000
19 November 2014  Nepal 1–0  Bangladesh Semi-finals 5,000
21 November 2014  India 6–0  Nepal Final 8,000

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.sports.gov.pk/Detail/U3BvcnRzRmFjaWxpdGllcw==
  2. ^ "FIFA Qualifiers: Setback for Football as Kabaddi takes center stage". The Nation. 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  3. ^ a b Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (2021-06-24). "China to support renovation of Pakistan Sports Complex". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  4. ^ a b c Zuberi, Anwar (2019-04-21). "ADMINISTRATION: MISMANAGED AND BORED". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  5. ^ a b Bell, Daniel (2011-11-07). Encyclopedia of International Games. McFarland. p. 343. ISBN 978-0-7864-6414-2.
  6. ^ "South Asian Games - Day One | NEWS | World Athletics". World Athletics. 2004-04-02. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  7. ^ Hashmi, Nabeel (2013-06-27). "Let the Games begin". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  8. ^ Saba, Fazeela (2016-05-06). "Quaid-e-Azam inter-provincial games: A light at the end of Pakistan's barren sports tunnel". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  9. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Inter Provincial Games 2017 - Khilari". www.khilari.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  10. ^ "WOMEN'S SOCCER: Khadija strikes as Punjab lift title". Dawn. 2005-09-30. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  11. ^ "Wapda lift women soccer trophy". Dawn. 2006-08-30. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  12. ^ "Lahore Club claim women soccer title". Dawn. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  13. ^ "Giant-killer Rising Star stun Wapda". The Nation. 2008-08-31. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  14. ^ "Malavan FC thrash Sports Sciences to clinch football title". Dawn. 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  15. ^ "Young Rising Star beat Diya FC to clinch National Women Championship". Dawn. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  16. ^ "Young Rising Stars beat WAPDA to win NWFC". Dawn. 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  17. ^ Abbasi, Kashif (2014-11-22). "India humble Nepal 6-0 to lift SAFF trophy for third time". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  18. ^ natasha.raheel (2023-10-17). "Jinnah Stadium prepared hastily for 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  19. ^ Abbasi, Kashif (2024-06-03). "'Arrangements for Pakistan, Saudi Arabia qualifier complete'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  20. ^ "Quaid-E-Azam International Cup (Pakistan)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  21. ^ "4th South Asian Federation Games 1989 (Islamabad, Pakistan)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-12-21.