Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium

Jaber al-Ahmad International Stadium

Shiekh Jaber Stadium Kuwait International Stadium
Aerial view of the stadium in January 2019
Location	Kuwait City, Kuwait
Coordinates	29°16′17.14″N 47°55′07″E / 29.2714278°N 47.91861°E / 29.2714278; 47.91861
Owner	Kuwait national football team, Kuwait Football Association
Operator	Kuwait national football team
Capacity	60,000
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	2 June 2006
Built	2006–2010 (4 years)
Opened	10 September 2010
Renovated	2015
Reopened	18 December 2015
Construction cost	120 million Kuwaiti dinar (US$394.6 million)
Tenants
Kuwait national team (2010–2011; 2015–present)
Website
https://www.stadjaber.com/

Jaber al-Ahmad International Stadium (Arabic: ملعب جابر الأحمد الدولي) is a multi-purpose stadium in the Ardhiyah area of Kuwait City, Kuwait. Completed in 2009, it is used mostly for football matches and athletics. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 seated spectators, the building is constructed in 4 levels, with 54 corporate boxes and a parking lot with a 6,001-car capacity. It was expected to open in the second quarter of 2010, but the building failed structural-integrity testing and remained closed for nearly half a decade due to a miscalculation by structural engineers. It was finally opened on 18 December 2015. Jaber Al-Ahmad stadium is currently the new home of the Kuwait national football team.^[1]

The stadium was named after late Amir of Kuwait Shaikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Kuwait celebrated their winning of the 20th Arabian Gulf Cup in that stadium.

Was an International Friendly between Kuwait National Team and Bahrain National Team ended 2-1 win to Bahrain.

The first ever official match held in the stadium was the 2010 AFC Cup Final between Qadsia SC and Al-Ittihad SC the match ended with a total of 59,783 total attendance and a scored of 1–1. The final score was 5–3 on penalties for the Syrian Team.

In 2010 after the 2010 AFC Cup Final problems started to occur to the stadium which led to closing the stadium in 2011. Renovations started in 2014 and ended in 2015.

The re-opening was announced on 28 November 2015 for the 2015 Kuwait Champions Challenge, where late Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah came to the opening. The match was between Kuwait XI and World Stars XI. The Kuwait XI won with a 4–2 score. LET'S PLAY!, the multimedia opening show (which was performed right before the match), was produced by Laser System Europe and Groupe F. It was written and directed by Rodolph Nasillski^[3]

The Kuwait FA at the time were banned by FIFA (starting in October 2015) due to the Kuwaiti Government's interference in sports. With that, FIFA prevented Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo (who both were playing at the MLS), and Xavi (who was playing for Al Sadd SC at the Qatar Stars League) from playing in the match.^[4]

The Crown Prince Cup Final between Kuwait SC and Al-Salmiya SC was hosted there. The KFA was given 150,000 KD to host the final. The final show was right before the match, and it included prizes for the visitors, including phones, cars, computers. There was also a firework show before and after the match.^[5]

The match was played on Tuesday 12 January 2016.^[6] The referee was Ahmed Al-Ali.^[7]

The match ended a 1–0 win for Al-Salmiya SC over Kuwait SC in the final of 2015–16 Kuwait Crown Prince Cup and gave Al-Salmiya their 9th official Championship and the first ever team to win a championship in this stadium.

KFA decided to just host the final of the Kuwait Emir Cup.^[8] It will be Al-Arabi SC against Kuwait SC The match was played on 5 April 2016 6:30 GMT+3, and ended 3-1 win for Kuwait SC.^[9] Kuwait SC won their 11th Emir Cup and the second team to win a domestic championship in the stadium.^[10]

KFA decided that Jaber International Stadium will host the Super Cup on 23 September after being delayed twice, and the dates were 21 September and 9 September.^[11] The Game will be the league champions Qadsia SC against the emir cup champions Kuwait SC.^[12] Kuwait won 3-2 on penalties after drawing 2-2 at full time.

During the season a couple of match weeks were played on the stadium due to lack of stadiums available due to Burgan SC joining the league, while 2 other teams renovating their own respectful stadiums, one of these matches include the Kuwaiti Classico.

Same as the league that season due to lack of available stadiums some matches will be played on this stadium.

the Arabian Gulf Cup returns to Kuwait after 3 years and after the Ban by FIFA has been lifted the AGCFF all decided to switch the host country to Kuwait. Oman were crowned Champions for the 2nd time after beating UAE on penalties in the final.

With the start of Evolution and expansions in Kuwait organized by Kuwait Football Association this is the first time the football season starts this early in August.

As of 28 February 2019

Club	appearances	wins	draws	loses
Kuwait SC	13	10	1	2
Kazma SC	6	4	0	2
Al-Salmiya SC	7	3	3	1
Qadsia SC	10	4	1	5
Al-Ittihad SC	1	1	0	0
Al-Tadhamon SC	2	1	1	0
Al-Fahaheel FC	2	1	0	1
Al-Nasr SC	1	0	1	0
Al-Arabi SC	6	1	2	3
Khaitan SC	1	0	0	1
Al-Shabab SC	3	0	1	2
Burgan SC	1	0	0	1
Sahel SC	2	0	1	1
Al-Sulaibikhat SC	2	0	1	1
Al-Jahra SC	3	0	0	3

Club	appearances	wins	draws	loses
Oman	4	3	0	1
United Arab Emirates	5	2	2	1
Saudi Arabia	2	1	1	0
Cameroon	1	1	0	0
Bahrain	3	1	1	1
Kuwait	7	1	2	4
Qatar	1	0	1	0
Egypt	1	0	1	0
Indonesia	3	2	0	1
Iraq	1	0	0	1
Vietnam	1	0	0	1

• Number of goals scored in the stadium: 106
• Scored in First Half: 44
• Scored in Second Half: 62
• Scored at Extra Time: 0

Most team played in the stadium: Kuwait SC 10 times
Highest scoring Match: 9 Goals Kazma SC 7-2 Al-Shabab SC
Most team winning in the stadium: Kuwait SC 7 times
Most team losing: Qadsia SC 3 times
First goal in the stadium: Ismail Abdul-Latif
First red card: Hussain Ali Baba

• List of football stadiums in Kuwait