Ilham Aliyev attends opening of Khankendi Stadium after major renovation

On november 7, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of Khankendi City Stadium following its major renovation.

TodayPress TV reports that Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov briefed the head of state on the facilities created at the stadium.

It was noted that Khankendi City Stadium was commissioned in 1956. Following the liberation of Khankendi from Armenian occupation as a result of Azerbaijan’s anti-terrorist operation in 2023, major renovation work began at the stadium.

The stadium has been extensively renovated and brought into compliance with UEFA Category 3 standards. Its total area has been expanded to 3.39 hectares.

The stadium has a total seating capacity of 8,554. Of these, 8,214 are standard seats, while 251 are designated for VIP guests. In addition, 59 seats are allocated for media representatives and 30 for people with disabilities.

The football pitch, measuring 105 metres in length and 68 metres in width, has been fitted with artificial turf. An athletics area has also been established around the pitch. It includes facilities for 100-metre races, running events ranging from 200 to 10,000 metres, steeplechase, long jump and other disciplines.

The stadium also features rooms for players and technical staff, as well as facilities for referees, coaches and media representatives, a conference hall and a medical centre.

The reopening of Khankendi City Stadium following its major renovation is a clear example of state support for sports in Azerbaijan. The project is expected to play an important role in developing sports infrastructure in the liberated territories and demonstrates the country’s commitment to sports and the healthy development of younger generations.

The construction of Olympic sports complexes, stadiums and other modern sports facilities across the regions further strengthens Azerbaijan’s international reputation as a sporting nation. The country continues to successfully host major global sporting events, while leading international sports organisations have shown interest in holding their events in Azerbaijan.

In this regard, the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, organised in Azerbaijan for the first time, as well as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be held in the country next year, are noteworthy.