Set to replace the 82-year-old Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium, the new sports complex not only has an increased capacity, but also a number of innovative engineering features. All work is progressing on schedule and the stadium is expected to be ready before the start of the 2025/2026 football season.

Ankara stadium will be bigger and more functional

A monumental investment is underway in the heart of the Türkiye capital - the construction of a new stadium in Ankara, to replace the 82-year-old Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadyumu. The main goals of this project are to increase the stadium's capacity to 50,000 seats and create a modern sports and cultural complex to serve the Turkish capital's residents and international visitors.

The new Ankara stadium, construction of which began in 2022, is expected to be ready in time for the 2025/2026 football season, and work is currently underway to increase its capacity. Project manager Cem Saraçlar explains: Work on capacity is ongoing. It will be finalized in a very short time. Our work on the raw structure is already at 95% at the moment. But we have some small axes that we are waiting for in parallel with the steel production. We have the openings. In parallel with them, this work will be completed. There are currently no disruptions to the programme regarding the construction work. The structure will meet the highest UEFA standards, including its earthquake resistance .

From a technical point of view, the project is a real masterpiece. The construction of the steel roof, weighing as much as 17,000 tonnes, is one of the biggest engineering challenges of the project. The roof, supported by eight pillars, encloses the stadium structure like a lid, making it one of the most technically advanced projects in the world. The 285-metre span places the stadium among the top three engineering projects in the world.

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As many as 700 people are working on the construction site in shifts 24/7. The intensive steel production and the fast pace of the mechanical and electrical work mean that the project can be expected to be completed on time.

The new stadium is not only a venue for sports matches, but also a space for cultural and social life. Its surroundings will include shops, restaurants, museums and retail spaces. It is worth noting that as much as 70,000 square metres of the facility will be dedicated to social and cultural activities. The complex will also include zones dedicated to various sports such as archery, taekwondo, boxing, fencing, dance, shooting, karate, judo, table tennis, kickboxing and muay thai.

The Ankara Stadium will also be equipped with modern technological solutions to prevent ground degradation. Another advantage will be the large number of parking spaces - 695 outside and 460 inside the complex.

The new Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium, with its modern infrastructure, aspires to host prestigious international events. The venue is already planned to host the 2027 UEFA Conference League final and one of the candidate stadiums for the 2032 European Championships.

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A chance for a prestigious football final in the Türkiye capital?

Türkiye is once again in the spotlight of European football. Following UEFA's announcement of the location of the 2026 Europa League and 2027 Conference League finals, Ankara could host one of these prestigious events. If the construction of the capital's new stadium is completed in time, there is a chance that the 2027 UEFA Conference League final will be played there.

During the UEFA Executive Committee meeting on 22 May 2023, it was decided that Türkiye will host two finals of European competitions: UEFA Europa League in 2026 and UEFA Conference League in 2027. The president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), Mehmet Büyükekşi, stressed the importance of these events, while recalling organisational successes such as the 2023 Champions League final and the awarding of Türkiye the right to co-host the 2032 European Championship.

Although the 2026 Europa League final will be held at Istanbul's Beşiktaş Park, the fate of the 2027 UEFA Conference League final may yet turn out differently. The new stadium in Ankara, which has been under construction since 2022, is one of the main candidates to host the event.

In a speech, Mehmet Büyükekşi highlighted the role of the Turkish government, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in developing the country's sports infrastructure. In addition, if the operations at the New Stadium in Ankara, which is under construction, are completed, we can move the 2027 UEFA Europa League final to our capital for the first time in our history . We have developed all these processes in consultation with the UEFA board, the TFF board and the Beşiktaş club board. I would like to thank our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and our state for building these great stadiums and raising our transport and accommodation facilities above world standards. By working hard, we have done our part and after winning the right to host the 2032 European Football Championship and the 2023 UEFA Champions League final, today we have brought the 2026 UEFA Europa League final and the 2027 UEFA European Conference League final to Türkiye - Büyükekşi said.

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Türkiye's wide choice in hosting Euro 2032

Two federations - Italy and Türkiye - have expressed interest in hosting the 2032 European Championships. Initially, they were separate candidates, but in July 2023, representatives of both bids decided to join forces in the battle to host the tournament.

The final selection of the Euro 2032 host took place on 10 October 2023 in Nyon. The UEFA Executive Committee awarded the organisation to the joint bid of Italy and Türkiye. This will be the fourth European Championship to be played in Italy (after 1968, 1980 and 2020). Türkiye will make its debut as host of the tournament.

Unlike the Italians, Türkiye should have no problem submitting its 5 stadiums for Euro 2032. The main stadium candidates will most likely be: Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadi, RAMS Park, Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyumu, Papara Park, Timsah Park, or just the new stadium in the Türkiye capital.

One of the stadiums that will open in 2025 will be Ankara Stadyumu. We have featured this and the rest of the venues on our Youtube channel: