Nasiriyah International Stadium – stadium description

How did the Nasiriyah International Stadium come about?

The project to build a new stadium in Nasiriyah came about thanks to the government's Dhi Qar Reconstruction Fund, and was one of the most important projects implemented under this program. The new facility was to be built in the southern part of the city, replacing the heavily neglected Nasiriyah Stadium, built back in the 1960s.

In 2020, the plot of land with the old stadium was taken over by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and in 2021 a contract was signed with Global Sport IQ and Artal Global for the demolition and construction of the new facility. The stadium was designed with attention to detail and using interesting motifs, as well as modern technologies.

The design of Nasiriyah International Stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

When was Nasiriyah International Stadium built?

After the demolition of the old facility, construction of the new stadium began in March 2022. Work proceeded very smoothly, although minor delays were not avoided. In February 2024, the media reported on two gun attacks carried out against engineering staff.

It should be added that in 2013, in the far northern suburbs of Nasiriyah, construction began on another, significantly larger football stadium with a capacity of 30,000 spectators (Olympic Stadium of Nasiriyah), but it encountered much greater difficulties and was not completed before the opening of the stadium that has been under construction since 2022.

An account of the construction of Nasiriyah International Stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

When was Nasiriyah International Stadium inaugurated?

The inauguration of the new stadium took place on August 20, 2024 on the occasion of a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani. The new facility was named Nasiriyah International Stadium, although the name Nasiriyah Local Administration Stadium was used during construction. The host club of the new facility is Al-Nasiriya SC.

What does Nasiriyah International Stadium look like?

The facility has a rectangular form, with rounded corners. Its outer skeleton is formed by 132 tapering pillars, alluding in shape to the tools used by the Sumerians to record cuneiform writing. Inside the stadium, there are further references to Sumerian culture.

The stands of the Nasiriyah International Stadium are single-story, although a division into an upper and lower section has been marked. The auditorium is equipped with seats in white and beige. The beige seats are arranged in vertical lines that form a sound spectrogram pattern, which represents a recording of the sound of Iraqi fans.

The stands are fully covered and have a capacity of 17,000 spectators. Under the roof, floodlights and two video screens have been placed. The main stand has a wide glass box for the most important guests. Also, the main stand has extensive backstage facilities, and is extended by an outdoor pavilion with a glass façade.