Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium

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]

Jaber al-Ahmad International Stadium
Shiekh Jaber Stadium
Kuwait International Stadium
Aerial view of the stadium in January 2019
Map
LocationKuwait City, Kuwait
Coordinates29°16′17.14″N 47°55′07″E / 29.2714278°N 47.91861°E / 29.2714278; 47.91861
OwnerKuwait national football team, Kuwait Football Association
OperatorKuwait national football team
Capacity60,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground2 June 2006
Built2006–2010 (4 years)
Opened10 September 2010
Renovated2015
Reopened18 December 2015
Construction cost120 million Kuwaiti dinar (US$394.6 million)
Tenants
Kuwait national team (2010–2011; 2015–present)
Website
https://www.stadjaber.com/

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.

History edit

First match edit

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

8 October 2010 Kuwait 1 – 2[2] Bahrain   Kuwait City, Kuwait
Ahmad Ajab   66' Ismaeel Latif   9'
Fouzi Ayesh   47'
Salma Isa   51'
Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 10,000

Second match edit

12 October 2010 Kuwait 1 – 0 Vietnam   Kuwait City, Kuwait
Ahmad Ajab   66' Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 10,000

AFC Cup 2010 edit

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.

6 November 2010 Al-Qadsia   1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
(2 – 4 p)
  Al-Ittihad Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City
19:00 (UTC+3) Al Enezi   29' Report Dyab   53' Attendance: 58,604
Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
Penalties
(penalty takers may not be in correct order)
Al Ansari  
Al Bloushi  
Al Khatib  
Al Mejmed  
(penalty takers may not be in correct order)
  Hemidi
  Dyab
  Dakka
  Kalaji

Renovations edit

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.

Re-opening edit

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]

2015–16 edit

Crown Prince Cup edit

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.

12-1-2016  Kuwait SC 0 – 1 Al-Salmiya SC   Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
17:30 (KSA) Faisal Al Enezi

Emir's Cup edit

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]

5-4-2016   Al-Arabi SC 1 – 3   Kuwait SC Jaber International Stadium, Kuwait City
19:00 (UTC+3) Hussain Al-Musawi   60' Report Yassine Salhi   3'
Talal Al-Enizi   9'
Yassine Salhi   19'
Attendance: 42,604

2016–17 edit

Super Cup 2016 edit

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.

23-9-2016   Kuwait SC 2 – 2
(3 – 2 p)
Qadsia SC  Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Final

2016–17 league matches edit

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.

28-9-2016   Al-Sulaibikhat SC 1 – 2 Kuwait SC  Week 1
Mishaal Deyab 61' Khalid Ajab 28'
Adel Arhily 93'
28-10-2016   Al-Jahra SC 0 – 2 Qadsia SC  Week 5
3-1-2017   Kazma SC 0 – 2 Kuwait SC  Week 10

2016–17 Crown Prince Cup edit

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

8-12-2016   Al-Shabab SC 2 – 7 Kazma SC  Group B Week 5
12-12-2016   Kazma SC 4 – 2 Burgan SC  Group B Week 6
16-12-2016   Al-Arabi SC 0 – 0 Kuwait SC  Group B Week 7
Semi-finals edit
21-12-2016   Qadsia SC 4 – 0 Al-Salmiya SC  Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
21-12-2016   Kuwait SC 5 – 0 Al-Jahra SC  Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Final edit
17-1-2017   Qadsia SC 0 – 0 (a.e.t.)
(3 – 5 p)
Kuwait SC   Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Final

2016–17 Emir Cup edit

21-2-2017   Kazma SC 2 – 4 Kuwait SC  Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Final

2017–18 edit

2017 Super Cup edit

7-9-2017   Kuwait SC 0 – 0
(5 – 4 p)
Qadsia SC  Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Final

2017–18 Kuwait Crown Prince Cup edit

16-11-2017   Al-Salmiya SC 1 – 1 Qadsia SC  Group B Week 1
28-11-2017   Kazma SC 3 – 1 Al-Jahra SC  Group B week 3
9-12-2017   Kuwait SC 2 – 1 Al-Arabi SC  Group A Week 4
Final edit
30-1-2018   Kuwait SC 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
(5 – 6 p)
Qadsia SC  Final

23rd Arabian Gulf Cup edit

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.

Group stage edit
22-12-2017   Kuwait 1 – 2 Saudi Arabia  Group A
18:30
Report
Attendance: 59,762
Referee: Ali Abdulnabi (Bahrain)
22-12-2017   Oman 0 – 1 United Arab Emirates  Group A
21:00 Report
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
25-12-2017  Saudi Arabia 0 – 0 United Arab Emirates  Group A
17:30 Report Attendance: 47,556
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
25-12-2017   Kuwait 0 – 1   Oman Group A
20:00 Report Al-Mahaijri   58' (pen.) Attendance: 58,583
Referee: Saoud Al-Athbah (Qatar)
28-12-2017   Kuwait 0 – 0 United Arab Emirates  Group A
18:30 Report Attendance: 24,563
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
29-12-2017   Qatar 1 – 1 Bahrain  Group B
18:30 Al-Haydos   45+5' (pen.) Report Ali Madan   57' Attendance: 23,412
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
Semi-finals edit
2-1-2018   Oman 1 – 0 Bahrain 
17:15 M. Al Jabar   29' (o.g.) Report Attendance: 19,534
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
2-1-2018   Iraq 3 – 0 (a.e.t.) United Arab Emirates 
20:30 Report Attendance: 27,142
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
Final edit

National Team friendlies edit

25-3-2018   Kuwait 1 – 3 Cameroon 
18:30
Report
Attendance: 4,762
Referee: Adel Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
25-5-2018   Kuwait 1 – 1 Egypt 
18:30
Report
Attendance: 24,322
Referee: )

2017–18 Emir Cup edit

25-4-2018   Qadsia SC 0 – 3 Al-Arabi SC  Round of 16
Final edit
8-5-2018  Al-Arabi SC 0 – 3 Kuwait SC   Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 23,465

2018–19 edit

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.

2018–19 Crown prince Cup final edit

28-2-2019   Qadsia SC 0 – 1 Kuwait SC   Final

Statistics edit

Most appearances & wins edit

As of 28 February 2019

Club edit

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

Country edit

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

Goals edit

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

Records edit

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

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "World Stadiums - Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  2. ^ Jude
  3. ^ "LET'S PLAY! - The Pictures". Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  4. ^ "FIFA stops Gerrard, Pirlo from playing game in banned Kuwait". Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  5. ^ "الكشف عن ميزانية نهائي كأس سمو ولي العهد الكويتي". كووورة. 9 July 2019.
  6. ^ "تأجيل نهائي كأس سمو ولي العهد الكويتي". 9 July 2019.
  7. ^ "أحمد العلي حكما لنهائي كأس سمو ولي العهد الكويتي". 9 July 2019.
  8. ^ "استاد جابر الدولي يستضيف نهائي كأس سمو أمير الكويت فقط!". 9 July 2019.
  9. ^ "كووورة: الموقع العربي الرياضي الأول". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  10. ^ "بالفيديو.. فريق الكويت بطلا لكأس الأمير للمرة الـ11 فى تاريخه". اليوم السابع. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  11. ^ "رسميًا.. استاد جابر الدولي يستضيف السوبر الكويتي". كووورة. 9 July 2019.
  12. ^ "كأس السوبر الكويتي - هداف - الموقع العربي الوحيد المختص بإحصائيات و مباريات كرة القدم". Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.