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Jinnah Sports Stadium

Sports venue in Islamabad, Pakistan

Jinnah Sports Stadium
Summary

Sports venue in Islamabad, Pakistan

FieldValue
nameJinnah Sports Stadium
imageJinnah Sports Stadium track and field.jpg
locationIslamabad, Pakistan
coordinates
built1970s
ownerPakistan Sports Board
surfaceNatural grass
architectChina State Construction Engineering
tenantsPakistan national football team (1986–present)
seating_capacity48,700
website
acreage45,000 sq. m
suites26
elevation536 m

Jinnah Sports Stadium () is a multi-purpose stadium in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is currently mostly used for football matches and serves as the home venue for the Pakistan national football team. The stadium has a capacity of 48,700 people, and is the largest stadium in Pakistan. The stadium is owned by the Pakistan Sports Board. The stadium is part of the Pakistan Sports Complex which also houses Liaquat Gymnasium, a gymnasium sports complex for indoor sports.****

History

Early years

Named after Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the stadium was built in the 1970s by Chinese State Construction Engineering for hosting the 1978 Asian Games, which were ultimately shifted to Bangkok. The Liaquat Gymnasium nearby was formally inaugurated as part of the complex when Pakistan played host to the seventh 1984 Asian Table Tennis Championships.

Home of Pakistan football

In 1986, it hosted the 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament for football matches. The stadium was first renovated and used for the South Asian Games in 1989. The same year, it also hosted the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification where Pakistan participated for the first time.

The stadium was once again chosen as a venue for the South Asian Games when Pakistan again hosted the event in 2004. Apart from being one of the main venues of several national sports events such as the National Games of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Inter Provincial Youth Games, or football events such as the Pakistan Premier League and the National Women Football Championship, the stadium has been a regular home venue for the Pakistan national football team since the 1980s. In 2014, the stadium hosted the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship for the Pakistan women national football team.

Refurbishments

1989]] with help of Chinese engineers.<ref name=&quot;:3&quot; />

After years of inactivity due to the ban on Pakistan Football Federation by FIFA, the stadium served as host after 11 years since Pakistan ever held an international football event, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification on 17 October 2023, which resulted in Pakistan's first ever victory in a World Cup qualifying match against Cambodia. Due to the scarcity of stadiums in Pakistan meeting FIFA standards, the stadium was refurbished including the grass, goalposts. For the matches at the next round, the stadium went more reforms upgrading the floodlights and seats.

Hosting history

Multi-sport events

Football events

Baseball events

While football, baseball, and athletics have been the main international sports hosted at Jinnah Sports Stadium, the broader Islamabad Sports Complex has also hosted the 1984 Asian Table Tennis Championships and the 1988 Asian Wrestling Championships.

2013 National Games

The National Games held in Islamabad from June 28 to July 4, 2013 took place at the Pakistan Sports Complex, with a colourful opening ceremony at Jinnah Stadium, inaugurated by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Around 2000 athletes from provincial and departmental teams competed across 29 Olympic sports, bringing a major multi-sport event back to the capital. Despite organisational challenges including disputes between factions of the Pakistan Olympic Association, the Games went ahead successfully. Pakistan Army emerged as the top-performing contingent, securing the overall winners’ trophy, while WAPDA and Punjab remained strong competitors throughout the week. Even with the off-field controversy, the Islamabad event became one of the city’s most significant sporting gatherings of the decade, showcasing national athletic talent and energising the country’s sports community.

Football tournaments

1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament

The stadium was the venue for the 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament.

DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance
25 April 1986PAK Pakistan Greens1–0Group stageN/A
25 April 19865–0Group stageN/A
26 April 1986PAK Pakistan Greens1–0SKO South Korea XIGroup stageN/A
26 April 1986PAK Pakistan Whites0–7Group stageN/A
27 April 19862–2Group stageN/A
27 April 1986PAK Pakistan Whites0–4SKO South Korea XIGroup stageN/A
28 April 1986PAK Pakistan Whites2–3Group stageN/A
28 April 1986PAK Pakistan Greens0–3Group stageN/A
29 April 1986SKO South Korea XI5–0Group stageN/A
30 April 1986SKO South Korea XI4–0Group stageN/A
30 April 1986PAK Pakistan Greens7–0PAK Pakistan WhitesGroup stageN/A
1 May 19863–0Group stageN/A
1 May 1986PAK Pakistan Whites0–2Group stageN/A
2 May 1986PAK Pakistan Greens5–0Group stageN/A
2 May 19861–1SKO South Korea XIGroup stageN/A

1989 South Asian Games

The stadium was the venue for the 1989 South Asian Games.

DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance
20 October 19890–0Group stageN/A
21 October 19893–0Group stageN/A
22 October 19890–0Group stageN/A
23 October 19891–1Group stageN/A
24 October 19892–0Group stageN/A
25 October 19892–1Group stageN/A
26 October 19892–1Bronze medal matchN/A
26 October 19891–0Gold medal matchN/A

2004 South Asian Games

The stadium was the venue for the 2004 South Asian Games.

DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance
1 April 20041–0Group stageN/A
1 April 20042–0Group stageN/A
3 April 20044–1Knockout stageN/A
3 April 20041–1Knockout stageN/A
5 April 20040–0Bronze medal matchN/A
5 April 20041–0Gold medal match37,000

2014 SAFF Women's Championship

The stadium was the venue for the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship.

DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance
11 November 20141–2Group stage6,500
12 November 20148–0Group stage2,000
13 November 20148–0Group stage250
13 November 20146–1Group stage5,000
14 November 20143–0Group stage500
14 November 20140–2Group stage1,700
15 November 20141–0Group stage2,000
15 November 20145–1Group stage2,000
16 November 20143–0Group stage600
16 November 20144–1Group stage4,000
17 November 20140–12Group stage2,000
17 November 20141–3Group stage900
19 November 20145–0Semi-finals2,000
19 November 20141–0Semi-finals5,000
21 November 20146–0Final8,000

Marka-e-Haq Ceremony

The Marka-e-Haq (“Battle of Truth”) Ceremony, held on 13 August 2025 in Islamabad, marked Pakistan's 78th Independence Day and celebrated its recent military victory in the Marka-e-Haq conflict. Attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and foreign dignitaries, the event featured military parades including contingents from Türkiye and Azerbaijan, an aerial fly-past by the Pakistan Air Force, cultural performances, fireworks, and the unveiling of a commemorative monument. In his address, the Prime Minister called for national unity through a “Charter of Pakistan’s Stability” and announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force Command. Earlier in the day, a grand defense exhibition at Shakarparian showcased military hardware from the conflict, while nationwide celebrations honored martyrs and reaffirmed Pakistan's sovereignty.

References

References

  1. Pakistan Sports Board, Islamabad. "Pakistan Sports Board, Islamabad".
  2. (2024-03-01). "FIFA Qualifiers: Setback for Football as Kabaddi takes center stage".
  3. Zuberi, Anwar. (2019-04-21). "ADMINISTRATION: MISMANAGED AND BORED".
  4. Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports. (2021-06-24). "China to support renovation of Pakistan Sports Complex".
  5. Bell, Daniel. (2011-11-07). "Encyclopedia of International Games". McFarland.
  6. (2014-11-16). "Darwen-born man honoured to play football for Pakistan on global stage". Lancashire Telegraph.
  7. (2004-04-02). "South Asian Games - Day One {{!}} NEWS {{!}} World Athletics".
  8. Hashmi, Nabeel. (2013-06-27). "Let the Games begin".
  9. Saba, Fazeela. (2016-05-06). "Quaid-e-Azam inter-provincial games: A light at the end of Pakistan's barren sports tunnel".
  10. "Quaid-e-Azam Inter Provincial Games 2017 - Khilari".
  11. (2005-09-30). "WOMEN'S SOCCER: Khadija strikes as Punjab lift title".
  12. (2006-08-30). "Wapda lift women soccer trophy".
  13. (2007-08-25). "Lahore Club claim women soccer title".
  14. (2008-08-31). "Giant-killer Rising Star stun Wapda".
  15. (2009-08-12). "Malavan FC thrash Sports Sciences to clinch football title".
  16. (2011-09-30). "Young Rising Star beat Diya FC to clinch National Women Championship".
  17. (2010-08-06). "Young Rising Stars beat WAPDA to win NWFC".
  18. Abbasi, Kashif. (2014-11-22). "India humble Nepal 6-0 to lift SAFF trophy for third time".
  19. natasha.raheel. (2023-10-17). "Jinnah Stadium prepared hastily for 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier".
  20. Abbasi, Kashif. (2024-06-03). "'Arrangements for Pakistan, Saudi Arabia qualifier complete'".
  21. "1984 – Asian Championship ATTU, Islamabad (PAK)".
  22. "Asian Championship". Japan Wrestling.
  23. "National Games: Pakistan Army on top with 264 medals".
  24. Teepu, Imran Ali. (2013-06-27). "2,000 athletes set to feature in 32nd National Games".
  25. "Quaid-E-Azam International Cup (Pakistan)".
  26. "4th South Asian Federation Games 1989 (Islamabad, Pakistan)".
  27. "9th South Asian Federation Games 2004 (Pakistan)". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  28. (21 November 2014). "SAFF Championships: Indian Women Complete Record Hattrick of Football Title". newschoupal.com.
  29. (13 August 2025). "Independence Day celebrations: PM unveils Army Rocket Force Command to sharpen combat edge".
  30. (13 August 2025). "Independence Day & Marka-e-Haq: Special grand ceremony in Islamabad today".
  31. "Documentary film 'Marka-e-Haq' released to expose Pahalgam false flag operation".
  32. (20 May 2025). "No Space for War: Marka-e-Haq and the Logic of Deterrence in South Asia - BASIC".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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