Franso Hariri Stadium

About

Franso Hariri Stadium (Kurdish, Yarîgay Franso Herîrî) is a multi-purpose stadium in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches by Erbil SC who plays in the Iraqi Premier League. The stadium also has facilities for athletics. The stadium has a capacity of 25,000. It was built on an old airfield in 1956 and was redeveloped in 1992. The stadium was home to the old Brusk club (renamed Shortat Erbil) and was named Erbil Stadium until 2001. It was renamed the Martyr Franso Hariri Stadium in honor of the assassinated Christian governor Franso Hariri, who supported efforts to renovate the stadium. On 23 February 2022, an all-star line-up of football legends including Brazil's Roberto Carlos and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert participated in a historic exhibition match at Franso Hariri stadium against Iraqi national team stars who won the 2007 AFC Asian Cup including Noor Sabri, Mahdi Karim and Ahmed Mnajed.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.