In the coming years, Kosovar football is set to receive four modern stadiums. Two will undergo complete renovations, while two new stadiums will be built from scratch.

Four major investments in Kosovo's infrastructure

Kosovo's Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Hajrullah Çeku, announced that work on football facilities will begin in the near future. The planned projects have been approved, and investments will soon commence. The cities of Peć and Ferizaj will receive new venues, while Prizren and Vushtrri will see their existing stadiums modernized.

Çeku promised that these cities would get state-of-the-art football facilities, with the total investment exceeding €50 million. The stadium projects are already completed. Peć and Ferizaj will each receive €19 million, Prizren €13 million, and Vushtrri will get €5 million for renovations, with 20% of the €5 million funded by the local community.

Intensive preparations for the Mediterranean Games in Pristina

We are fully committed to implementing the five-year plan for improving football infrastructure in the country, said Çeku. These investments are part of a broader five-year plan to consolidate football infrastructure and prepare for the 21st Mediterranean Games in Pristina. Thanks to these investments and the momentum of ongoing works, Kosovo will have at least four top-tier stadiums ready in two years. According to the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MKRS), four out of many planned projects are expected to be completed before the Mediterranean Games in 2030. The initial project includes 24 sports facilities. Ten will be renovated, including the Youth and Sports Palace. There will be four new constructions, including a national stadium, a pool-court complex, and a shooting range. Five temporary infrastructure projects and five others in progress, including the Adem Jashari Stadium in Mitrovica and the Gjilan stadium, said Prime Minister Albin Kurti in a government meeting about the Mediterranean Games held in September 2023.

© Frank Jasperneite | Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri

It is expected that millions of euros will be invested in sports infrastructure before the event. Currently, the infrastructure falls short of the standards required for hosting the Games. There have been many objections to these investments, as many of the previous works were poorly done, lacked proper oversight, and facilities were not properly maintained. There is a justified concern that the next funds might be wasted in a similar way.

Will the long-awaited national stadium finally be built?

The new national stadium would be the venue for the opening ceremony of the Mediterranean Games. However, its construction is not a certainty. Several years ago, there were plans to build the Kosovo National Stadium in Drenas. The project, designed in 2019, was supposed to be completed three years later. The stadium was to have a capacity of 30,000 and serve as the home of the Kosovo national team and the venue for the country's most important football matches. However, construction was halted due to political reasons related to the location. Additionally, the Kosovo government struggled to secure enough funds to cover the estimated costs and sought alternative sources of financing, including international loans or partnerships.

The issue resurfaced in 2023 when Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that Kosovo would invest €250 million in the construction of the national stadium, with the money being allocated once Kosovo is chosen to host the Mediterranean Games in 2030.

© FFK Kosova, Tabanlıoğlu Architects | Design of Stadiumi Kombëtar

Ongoing renovation work at various stadiums

Currently, construction is underway at several stadiums, including the Adem Jašari Stadium in Mitrovica. After renovations, it will have a capacity of 18,500. The budget for the work is approximately €3.2 million, and once completed, the stadium will be able to host international matches and meet UEFA and FIFA standards. Renovations are also taking place at the Municipal Stadium in Gjakova, where turf installation has just begun, and the stadium’s capacity will be just over 11,500.

The Shtime stadium has also been modernized. The venue will meet FIFA and UEFA standards. The project includes the construction of new stands for about 1,200 spectators, as well as other auxiliary areas, such as locker rooms, technical rooms, and media spaces. Furthermore, work continues to expand and upgrade the National Camp in Hajvali, which serves the Kosovo national teams across various age groups.

© Jiří Klobasa | Stadiumi Olimpik Adem Jashari

Endless problems in Gjilan

The stadium in Gjilan, mentioned by the Prime Minister over a year ago, will have a capacity of 9,500 after renovations. However, the investment, which started in 2017, has faced continuous delays. According to the original plan, the renovation was supposed to be completed by October 23, 2020. These issues have mainly arisen from the public procurement process. Initially, the tender was opened by the Municipality of Gjilan in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, allocating €15 million for the renovation. However, the process was halted due to irregularities detected by the Public Procurement Review Body (OSHP), which led to the cancellation of the original tender.

Further complications arose when the company involved in the tender process filed complaints, causing a suspension of the process at the beginning of 2024. The Ministry of Culture took over the project after the municipality failed to finalize the contract. Despite these challenges, officials are hopeful that the project will soon be resumed.