Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium
Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium is an association football stadium on Dahiat al'Barid St in Al-Ram, Jerusalem. It is the home stadium of the Palestine national football team. It is named after Faisal Husseini, a Palestinian politician who died in 2001. The stadium seats 12,500.
Full name | Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium |
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Location | Al-Ram, Jerusalem |
Coordinates | 31°50′51″N 35°13′49″E |
Capacity | 12,500 (all seated) |
Surface | Artificial turf |
Construction | |
Renovated | 2008 |
Construction cost | US$4 million (renovation) |
Tenants | |
Palestine national football team (2008–present) Hilal Al-Quds Club |
Palestine international matches
On 26 October 2008, the team played Jordan in their first-ever home international in 10 years of FIFA membership. In attendance were FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.[1] On 29 October 2009, the Palestinian national women's football team played its first home international match against Jordan before a capacity crowd at the stadium.[2]
On 9 March 2011, Palestine "played its first ever competitive match at home in the West Bank". It was the second leg of a qualifier for the 2012 Olympic Games, against Thailand. Thailand had won the first leg 1–0 in Bangkok; Palestine won the second 1–0 at the stadium, with a goal by Abdelhamid Abuhabib in the 43rd minute. The draw on aggregate led to a penalty shootout, with Thailand winning 6–5. Attending the match was Prime Minister Fayyad, who described it as a "historic day".[3]
Palestine | 1–0 (1–1 on aggregate) | |
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Abuhabib |
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Penalties | ||
5–6 |
On 3 July 2011, the stadium hosted "the first World Cup game ever to be played at home in the Palestinian territories". The game was the second leg of a two-match encounter against Afghanistan, in the first round of the Asian Football Confederation qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The game was a draw, enabling Palestine to advance to the second round on aggregate. Afghanistan were eliminated.[4]
Palestine | 1–1 | |
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Wadi |
Report | Arezou |
References
- "Jordan ties Palestine in historic match". The Jordan Times. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- "Palestine women tie Jordan in soccer first". Ma'An News Agency. 26 October 2000. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- "Palestinian footballers in bittersweet Olympic match". BBC News. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- "Palestinians play first World Cup qualifier at home", BBC, 3 July 2011