Punjab Stadium
{{Short description|Sports venue in Lahore, Pakistan}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Punjab Stadium
| image = Stadium f.jpg
| image_size = 270px
| former_names =
| location = Hafeez Kardar Road, Lahore, Pakistan
| coordinates = {{coord|31|30|39|N|74|19|55|E|display=it}}
| broke_ground =
| opened = 3 January 2003
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Punjab Sports Board
| operator = Punjab Sports Board
| surface = Grass
| tenants = Pakistan national football team (2005–present)
| seating_capacity = 10,000
}}
The Punjab Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as one of the home venues for the Pakistan national football team. The stadium has a capacity of around 10,000 spectators.https://uk.soccerway.com/venues/pakistan/punjab-stadium/v6837/{{Cite web |date=2005-06-30 |title=PFF faces dilemma over venue selection for SAFF contest |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/145785/pff-faces-dilemma-over-venue-selection-for-saff-contest |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Khilari |title=Punjab Athletics Stadium - Sports Facility - Khilari |url=https://www.khilari.com.pk/facilities/athletics/lahore/punjab-athletics-stadium/166 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=www.khilari.com.pk |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2009-10-29 |title=AFC gives stamp of approval to Punjab Stadium |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/29-Oct-2009/afc-gives-stamp-of-approval-to-punjab-stadium |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}} It is owned and operated by the Punjab Sports Board.{{Cite web |last=natasha.raheel |date=2023-10-17 |title=Jinnah Stadium prepared hastily for 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2441568/jinnah-stadium-prepared-hastily-for-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualifier |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-09-08 |title=Faisal Saleh Hayat: The feudal lord of Pakistani football |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Sep-2016/faisal-saleh-hayat-the-feudal-lord-of-pakistani-football |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}}
History
= Early years =
The construction of the multi-purpose stadium started in 1999 aimed to host the National Games of Pakistan. The Government of Punjab gave Rs 110 million for the project to the Lahore Development Authority before the start of the work.{{Cite web |date=2002-06-14 |title=Delay expected in completion of work: Punjab Stadium |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/43012 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} After failure to complete the stadium before the commencement of the National Games, the project received several extensions until the venue finally hosted the Punjab Games in 2003.{{Cite web |date=2003-03-03 |title=Punjab Games begin today |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/84978/punjab-games-begin-today |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2002-01-11 |title=Punjab Games advanced to October |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/14456 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Yaqoob |first=Mohammad |date=2003-03-04 |title=69th edition of Punjab Games begin |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/85272/69th-edition-of-punjab-games-begin |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}
= Home of Pakistan football =
Apart from being one of the main venues of several national sports events such as the National Games of Pakistan or football events such as the Pakistan Premier League, PFF League, PFF National Challenge Cup and the National Women Football Championship,{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=The Newspaper's Sports|date=2016-02-21|title=KRL, NBP set PFF Cup showdown|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1240852|access-date=2022-01-02|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Irfan's brace helps PAF win third position in PFF Cup|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/100039-Irfans-brace-helps-PAF-win-third-position-in-PFF-Cup|access-date=2022-01-02|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-10-26|title=Army annex National Women Football trophy|url=https://nation.com.pk/26-Oct-2018/army-annex-national-women-football-trophy|access-date=2022-01-02|website=The Nation|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Goalkeeper Omar's horror-show as NBP held by SNGPL|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/383404-goalkeeper-omar-s-horror-show-as-nbp-held-by-sngpl|access-date=2022-01-02|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}} the stadium has been a regular home venue for the Pakistan national football team since the 2000s.
In June 2005, it hosted its first international football match, where Pakistan won against India by 3–0.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan beat India, tie football series |url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/foot/20050619.htm |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=Rediff |language=en}} In 2006, the stadium hosted Pakistan's Asian Cup qualifier match against Jordan.{{Cite web|title=Pakistan vs Jordan (0-3) Oct 11, 2006 Match Preview and Stats|url=https://www.footballcritic.com/afc-asian-cup-qualification-pakistan-jordan/preview/1191452|access-date=2022-01-02|website=FootballCritic|language=en}} The next year, it hosted 13 of the 15 matches of the AFC President's Cup. In October 2007, it hosted the first leg of Pakistan's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iraq.{{Cite web|title=Pakistan vs Iraq (0-7) Oct 22, 2007 Match Stats|url=https://www.footballcritic.com/wc-qualification-pakistan-iraq/match-stats/407518|access-date=2022-01-02|website=FootballCritic|language=en}}
On 1 March 2011, the stadium hosted a friendly match against Palestine, which the hosts lost by 2–1.{{Cite web|last=Ahsan|first=Ali|date=2011-03-06|title=Pakistan-Palestine football series a welcome step|url=https://www.dawn.com/2011/03/06/pakistan-palestine-football-series-a-welcome-step/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}} Eight days later, it hosted the second leg of the Pakistan under-23 team during the Olympic football Asian qualifiers against Malaysia, which ended 0-0. 7,000 spectators attended the match.{{Cite web|date=2011-03-09|title=Sloppy Pakistan give Malaysia second round ticket|url=https://www.dawn.com/2011/03/09/pakistan-fail-to-achieve-desired-result-in-draw-with-malaysia/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}} Four months later, on 3 July 2011, it hosted the second leg of Pakistan's World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh, which ended in a goalless draw.
In May 2012, it hosted all Group A fixtures of the 2012 AFC President's Cup. As part of the Punjab International Sports Festival, the stadium hosted the Chief Minister Punjab International Football Cup 2012 in November, which was won by Serbian club FK Bor.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-06 |title=Punjab Int’l Sports Festival starts today |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/06-Nov-2012/punjab-int-l-sports-festival-starts-today |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}} On 12 October 2014, it hosted a friendly against Palestine, which Pakistan lost 2–0.{{Cite web|date=2014-10-13|title=Palestine beat Pakistan with last minute goals|url=https://nation.com.pk/13-Oct-2014/palestine-beat-pakistan-with-last-minute-goals|access-date=2022-01-02|website=The Nation|language=en}} A few months later, on 6 February 2015, it hosted another friendly against Afghanistan, which Pakistan won 2–1.
After years of inactivity due to the ban on Pakistan Football Federation by FIFA, and after 11 years since Pakistan ever held an international football event, the stadium was considered as one of the potential venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification on 17 October 2023. However, the qualifier was eventually played at Jinnah Sports Stadium in Islamabad after Punjab Stadium was deemed to be falling short of FIFA standards.{{Cite web |title=Uncertainty looms over hosting of Pakistan's home game for FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier |url=https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/28148-uncertainty-looms-over-hosting-of-pakistans-home-game-for-fifa-world-cup-2026-qualifiers |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=www.geosuper.tv |language=en-US}}
Hosting history
=Football events=
=Rugby events=
=Kabaddi events=
In addition to these events, Punjab Stadium has been a venue for various national sports competitions and cultural festivals, contributing to Lahore's vibrant sports scene.https://www.khilari.com.pk/facilities/athletics/lahore/punjab-athletics-stadium/166https://www.app.com.pk/photos-section/players-in-action-during-khelta-punjab-inter-division-games-2025-at-punjab-stadium/https://www.app.com.pk/domestic/lahore-youth-festival-trials-continue-in-punjab-stadium-alhamra-cultural-complex/{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/553023/sports-board-punjab-announces-kabaddi-world-cup-schedule/|title=Sports Board Punjab announces Kabaddi World Cup schedule|date=5 February 2020}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}{{Pakistan national football team}}{{LahoreTopics}}
Category:Sports venues in Lahore
Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in Pakistan