Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium () is a multi-purpose stadium in the Ardiya 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.
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.
The first match held at the stadium was an international friendly between Kuwait national team and Bahrain national team.
Following 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 4âÂÂ2 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
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.
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.
Most team played in the stadium: Kuwait National Football Team 21 times <br /> Highest scoring Match: 7 Goals Indonesia National Football Team 7-0 Nepal National Football Team<br /> Most team winning in the stadium: Bahrain National Football Team 5 times <br /> Most team losing: Kuwait National Football Team 10 times <br /> First goal in the stadium: Ismail Abdul-Latif <br /> First red card: Hussain Ali Baba