Aleppo International Stadium

File:Aleppo International Stadium, night view, 2009 (1).jpg

The construction of the stadium was launched in 1980, based on the design of the Polish Constructor Stanisław Kuś. It was scheduled to be completed in 1987 to become ready for the Mediterranean games. However, the construction process was stopped and delayed for 2 decades due to financial difficulties, until 2003.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

Finally, after a record period of 27 years of construction, the stadium became ready in early 2007. Officially, the stadium was opened on 3 April 2007 with an inaugural friendly match between Al-Ittihad SC and Fenerbahçe of Turkey which ended in a 2–2 draw. The first goal scored in the stadium came at the 8th minute of the inaugural match, through Abdul Fattah Al Agha. The Syrian president Bashar Al Assad and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the opening ceremony and the match.{{cite book |author=Özlem Tür |title=Turkey-Syria Relations: Between Enmity and Amity |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |page=81 |isbn=9781317005957 }}

It was severely damaged during the Syrian Civil War. Its facade and many of its indoor facilities were completely destroyed, and the pitch and tribunes took significant damage, especially from mortar fire.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/1810159/|title=В Сирии восстанавливают разрушенные боевиками спортивные объекты|last=Голованов|first=Евгений|website=НТВ|language=en|access-date=2018-06-26}}

The Syrian government started the process of repairing the stadium after the conclusion of the Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016).{{Cite web|url=http://jamahir.alwehda.gov.sy/node/404701|title=تأهيل استاد حلب الدولي على مرحلتين بتوجيه من رئيس الحكومة و صيانة صالة الأسد في عهدة لجنة الإعمار المركزية {{!}} الجماهير|website=jamahir.alwehda.gov.sy|language=ar|access-date=2018-06-26|archive-date=2019-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817140240/http://jamahir.alwehda.gov.sy/node/404701|url-status=dead}} Iran assisted Syria with repairs.{{Cite web|url=http://jamahir.alwehda.gov.sy/node/404495|title=دراسة إعادة تأهيله أصبحت في مقدمة الأولويات .. افتتاح استاد حلب الدولي بتعاون سوري إيراني .. ولقاء استثنائي بين الاتحاد والحرية {{!}} الجماهير|website=jamahir.alwehda.gov.sy|language=ar|access-date=2018-06-26|archive-date=2019-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222134800/http://jamahir.alwehda.gov.sy/node/404495|url-status=dead}} On 18 December 2024, a fire broke out in the stadium under unclear circumstances following the fall of the Assad regime.{{cite web |url=https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2024/12/syria-fire-breaks-out-at-aleppo-international-stadium-in-al-hamadaniyah-area-of-aleppo-late-dec-18 |title=Syria: Fire breaks out at Aleppo International Stadium in Al-Hamadaniyah area of Aleppo late Dec. 18 |publisher=Crisis24 |date=18 December 2024 }}

File:Aleppo International Stadium, day view, 2009 (2).jpg

The stadium has five levels: the first level is the sport ground itself, with its surrounding facilities, the second level consists of training halls, different facilities and support services. The rest three levels are designed to host the attendants' seats; the first tier holds up to 25,000 seats while the second and the third host 14,000 each. The VIP hall located on the third level, is designed and decorated with oriental wood-works.{{Cite web |url=http://www.alwehda.gov.sy/index.php/%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8/2057-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A2%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-07-07 |archive-date=2018-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413193111/http://www.alwehda.gov.sy/index.php/%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8/2057-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A2%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8 |url-status=dead }}

The stadium occupies an area of 3.5 hectares out of the 33 hectares of the whole sports complex. It is provided with two electronic screens (7X15 meters each). The stadium is all-covered with a pre-built concrete.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|date = 3 April 2007

|time= 21:00 UTC+2

|round = Friendly match

|team1 = {{fbaicon|SYR|1980}} Al-Ittihad

|score = 2–2

|report = https://www.goalzz.com/?m=302857

|team2 = {{fbaicon|TUR}} Fenerbahçe

|goals1 =

• Al Agha {{goal|8}}
• Yatchenko {{goal|86}}

|goals2 =

• Şentürk {{goal|13}}
• Barış {{goal|88}}

|stadium =

|attendance = 53,000

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|date= 15 September 2010

|round = Quarterfinals first leg

|time= 20:00 (UTC+3)

|team1= {{fbaicon|SYR|1980}} Al-Ittihad

|score= 3–2

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=report&compID=385&matchId=3000 Report]

|team2= {{flagicon|KUW}} Kazma

|goals1= Dakka {{goal|45|pen.}}
Al Ghabash {{goal|62}}
Shahrour {{goal|90}}

|goals2= Aldafeeri {{goal|73}}
Laheeb {{goal|90+4}}

|attendance=34,400

|referee= Mohamed Al Zarouni (United Arab Emirates)

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|date= 19 October 2010

|round = Semifinals second leg

|time= 20:00 (UTC+3)

|team1= {{fbaicon|SYR|1980}} Al-Ittihad

|score=2 – 0

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=report&compID=385&matchId=2997 Report]

|team2= {{fbaicon|THA}} Muangthong United

|goals1=Al Hasan {{goal|27||41}}

|goals2=

|attendance=48,000

|referee= Hiroyoshi Takayama (Japan)

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

|date = 14 January 2009

|time = 14:00 UTC+2

|team1 = {{fb|Syria|1980}}

|score = 3–2

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|CHN}}

|goals1 =

• Al Sayed {{goal|8|pen.|24}}
• Al Khatib {{goal|39|pen.}}

|goals2 =

• Qu Bo {{goal|51}}
• Liu Jian {{goal|90+4}}

|attendance = 7,000

|referee = Mohsen Torky (Iran)

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = Friendly

|date = 21 March 2009

|time =

|team1 = {{fb|Syria|1980}}

|score = 1–2

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|QAT}}

|goals1 =

• al-Haj {{goal|79}}

|goals2 =

• Soria {{goal|56||74}}

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

|date = 18 November 2009

|time =

|team1 = {{fb|Syria|1980}}

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|VIE}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|attendance = 19,000

|referee = Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman)

|result = D

}}

• List of Asian stadiums by capacity

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/middle_east/syria/aleppo_stadium.shtml The stadium at WorldStadiums]

{{Aleppo landmarks}}

Category:Sports venues completed in 2007

Category:Football venues in Syria

Category:Sports venues in Aleppo

Category:2007 establishments in Syria