Rizal Memorial Stadium

Background

Since the 1930s, it has hosted all major local football tournaments and some international matches. When a new tartan track was laid out at the oval for the country's initial hosting of the 1981 Southeast Asian Games, the venue became a hub for athletics and the football pitch's condition slowly deteriorated. It eventually became unsuitable for international matches which meant the Philippine national team would have to play their home games at an alternate venue.

In 2010, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) partnered with the De La Salle University to refurbish the stadium's football pitch. The stadium had undergone a major renovation program with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) spend for the renovation of the locker rooms, comfort rooms, and the fiberglass seats. The renovation was completed in 2011 and was first used for the game of Azkals against Sri Lanka in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers round on July 3, 2011 which was the first international football game held at the stadium in the decades, where the Philippine national team won 4-0 overall. However, the pitch (which was a natural grass) deteriorated again due to the number of football and rugby events, that led the PSC to convert it into an artificial turf in 2014. In 2015, its football pitch received the 2-star accreditation from FIFA, making it the first football pitch in the Philippines to have it.

The stadium has undergone a major renovation after it was designated as the venue for the men's football event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games New individual seats are to be installed in the spectator area of the stadium outside the main grandstand. The renovation also includes the upgrading of its rubberized track oval. The renovation will be funded from the given by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to the Philippine Sports Commission.

In early 2025, the stadium's artificial pitch was replaced with a new one within a month and tested on April 11.

Sport

Athletics

Rizal Memorial has hosted several regional athletic meets, among the firsts being the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games, the precursor of the Asian Games. It then went on to host the 1954 Asian Games. Aside from the athletic events, it also served as the main stadium for both of the multi-sport events. It also hosted the athletic events of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and ASEAN Para Games.

It hosted regional athletic championships, hosting Asian Athletics Championships twice in 1993 and 2003. On a national level, the stadium has served as the venue for the Philippine Athletics Championships several times.

Football

Domestic

Rizal Memorial is the home to the Philippines Football League, hosting matches since the league's inaugural season in 2017, hosting matches during the 2017 Philippines Football League, 2018 Philippines Football League, 2019 Philippines Football League, 2022–23 Philippines Football League, and the 2024–25 Philippines Football League. It also hosts the matches for the Copa Paulino Alcantara. The football tournaments for the National Collegiate Athletics Association and University Athletic Association of the Philippines are held in the stadium. The 2023 PFF Women's League was also held at the stadium.

International

One of the first events held in the stadium is the football tournament of the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games. The opening match between the Philippines and China on 12 May 1934 drew an estimated crowd of 40,000 people. China won the match 2–1, and eventually won the title. Other football tournaments of regional multi-sport events includes the 1954 Asian Games, the 1981, 1991, and 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

In 1966 and 1970, the AFC Youth Championship was held at Rizal Memorial.

The 2012 and 2014 Philippine Peace Cup were held in the stadium.

AFC Champions League tournaments were also held in the stadium:

• 2017 AFC Cup
• 2018 AFC Cup
• 2020 AFC Cup
• 2020 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs

Other events held at the stadium:

• 2012 and 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup Semifinals
• 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification Group E
• 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification
• 2023–24 AFC Champions League
• 2023–24 AFC Cup

ASEAN Championships

2022 AFF Women's Championship

FIFA World Cup Qualification

• 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
• 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round

Rugby

The first international rugby test in the stadium was held when the Philippines hosted the 2012 Asian Five Nations Division I tournament, which doubled as a qualifying tournament for the 2015 Rugby World Cup; the goal posts were erected just days prior to the tournament.

Other purposes

Concert

On July 4, 1966, the Rizal Memorial Stadium hosted two sold-out concerts of the Beatles. The combined attendance was 80,000 with the evening concert registering 50,000 paying audience and becoming the Beatles' second-biggest concert ever.

Add to this, a celebrity had concert in this Stadium “The Vic Damone Show” held on 24 December 1960. A huge audience attended his concert in the evening.

[[COVID-19 pandemic]]

During the government's "Hatid Tulong" program, the stadium was used as the designated temporary holding place for Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs). With the stadium being full, many other individuals who availed of the said program ended up sleeping and gathering outside.

Notes

References

References

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2. "Estádios - Manila, Filipinas". Show de Bola.
3. June Navarro. (29 March 2009). "PSC plans to restore RMSC football field". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
4. (6 July 2011). "Unsung Heroes of Philippine Football".
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6. (3 July 2011). "Fulltime: Philippine Azkals 4-0 Sri Lanka". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
7. (13 June 2011). "Rizal stadium ready for Azkals vs Sri Lanka football match". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
8. (9 May 2014). "Take a peek at Azkals' refurbished home: Rizal Stadium's new artificial turf ready to host games".
9. (17 July 2014). "Rizal Memorial Stadium Rolls Out A New Green Carpet for Philippine Football".
10. (12 February 2015). "Rizal Memorial Stadium Becomes First Football Pitch In The Philippines To Receive FIFA Accreditation".
11. (1 September 2019). "Venues to serve Philippine sports beyond 30th Southeast Asian Games".
12. (3 January 2019). "2019 SEA Games: Rizal Memorial Stadium renovations in full swing". Rappler.
13. (1 February 2019). "He advocates play and games to foster brotherhood". [[The Manila Times]].
14. (12 September 2019). "Will it beat the SEAG deadline? Inside the Rizal Memorial makeover". ABS-CBN News.
15. (5 February 2025). "In interesting setup, Kaya Iloilo plays last Shopee Cup home stand in Stallion Laguna territory". Dugout Philippines.
16. (27 February 2025). "New Clark City to host PMNT matches in Asian Cup qualifiers". Sports Interactive Network Philippines.
17. (10 April 2025). "Rizal Memorial Stadium shows off new artificial grass". Sports Interactive Network Philippines.
18. (20 May 2025). "Rizal Memorial football field gains 'FIFA Quality Pro' status". The Philippine Star.
19. (20 May 2025). "Rizal Memorial Football Field now FIFA-certified as 'quality pro'". ABS-CBN News.
20. "Tenth Far Eastern Games 1934 (Manila)".
21. (2012-04-14). "Teams ready for RWC Qualifiers in Manila". Rugbyworldcup.com.
22. "A Hard Day's Night in Manila". BeatlesNumber9.com.
23. "LOOK: Stranded individuals cram inside Rizal Memorial Sports Complex".
24. "Some LSIs slept on the streets as Rizal Memorial Stadium already full".