Azadi Stadium

{{Short description|Association football stadium in Iran}} {{About|a stadium in Tehran|the stadium in Kermanshah|Azadi Stadium (Kermanshah)|the metro station in Tehran|Azadi Stadium Metro Station}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox venue | name = Azadi Stadium | native_name = ورزشگاهِ آزادی | native_name_lang = | nickname = Azadi | logo_image = | logo_size = | logo_caption = | image = Azadi Stadium ACL 2018.jpg | image_size = | caption = Stadium during the [[2018 AFC Champions League#Semi-finals|2018 AFC Champions League semi-finals]] | fullname = Azadi Stadium<ref name="fifa">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/video/video=516514/index.html|title=Azadi Stadium Guide |publisher=fifa.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012024723/https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/video/video=516514/index.html|access-date=20 March 2015|archive-date=12 October 2013}}</ref> | former_names = | location = [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]] | owner = [[Ministry of Sport and Youth (Iran)|Ministry of Sport and Youth of Iran]] | operator = [[Azadi Sport Complex]] Tehran Municipality | capacity = 78,116 (2016–present)<ref name="Varzesh">{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1343025/22-%D9%87%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B8%D8%B1%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%85-%D8%B4%D8%AF|title=22 هزار نفر از ظرفیت آزادی کم شد :: ورزش سه|website=www.varzesh3.com|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref> {{small|84,412 (2012–2016)<ref name="teammelli">{{cite web|url=http://www.teammelli.com/ticlesarchived/azadi-stadium/|title=Azadi Stadium | TeamMelli|date=15 June 2013 |publisher=teammelli.com|access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref> 95,225 (2003–2012) 100,000 (1971–2003)}} | record_attendance = 128,000 {{small|{{flagicon|Iran|1980}} [[Iran national football team|Iran]] vs. {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]}} | dimensions = {{convert|110|x|75|m|abbr=on}} | acreage = | surface = [[Desso GrassMaster]] | scoreboard = 104 m2 jumbotron | broke_ground = 1 October 1970 | built = 1970–1971 (1 year) | opened = {{start date|1971|10|17|df=yes}} | renovated = 2002–2003 2023–''ongoing'' | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | cost = 2,578,183,966 [[Iranian rial|tomans]] ({{€|400,163,944}}) | architect = [[Abdol-Aziz Mirza Farmanfarmaian]] | project_manager = [[Skidmore, Owings & Merrill]] | structural_engineer = James Raymond Whittle | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | tenants = {{Unbulleted list|[[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]] (1973–present)|[[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] (1973–present)|[[Iran national football team]] (1975–present)}} | website = {{URL|http://www.azadisportcomplex.com}} }}

The '''Azadi Stadium''' ({{langx|fa|ورزشگاه آزادی|Varzeshgâh-e Âzâdi}}, {{IPA|fa|væɹzeʃˈɡɒːhe ɒːzɒːˈdiː|pron}}), opened and also well known as the '''Aryamehr Stadium''' ({{langx|fa|ورزشگاه آریامهر|Varzeshgâh-e Âryâmehr|link=no}}), is an [[all-seater stadium|all-seater]] [[Association football|football]] stadium in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]. The stadium was designed by [[Abdol-Aziz Mirza Farmanfarmaian|Abdol Aziz Mirza Farman-Farmaian]] Architects and Associates (AFFA), with other parts of the sports complex based on plans by American architectural and engineering firm [[SOM (architectural firm)|Skidmore, Owings & Merrill]]. It currently has a capacity of 78,116 spectators,<ref name="Varzesh" /> as a result of conversion to an [[all-seater stadium]].

Originally named ''[[Aryamehr]]'' ({{literally|Light of the Aryans}}) after the title of the Shah, the stadium was inaugurated on 17 of October 1971 by [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]], the late [[List of monarchs of Persia|Shah of Iran]], as part of the greater [[Azadi Sport Complex|Aryamehr Sport Complex]]. Both stadium and complex were renamed after the 1979 [[Iranian Revolution]] to ''Azadi'' (meaning "freedom" in [[Persian language|Persian]]).

The [[List of association football stadiums by capacity|largest association football stadium in Western Asia]], it was built to host the [[1974 Asian Games]] and has hosted the [[1976 AFC Asian Cup]]. The stadium has also hosted five finals of Asian Club Competitions: three finals of [[AFC Champions League]] in [[1998–99 Asian Club Championship#Final|1999]], [[2001–02 Asian Club Championship#Final|2002]] and [[2018 AFC Champions League Final|2018]] and two finals of the [[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]] in [[1990–91 Asian Cup Winners Cup#Final|1991]] and [[1992–93 Asian Cup Winners Cup#Final|1993]]. Azadi Stadium also hosted [[WAFF Championship]] Tournament in [[2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship|2004]] and [[2008 West Asian Football Federation Championship|2008]].

Azadi Stadium is currently under the joint ownership of [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]] and [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]], the capital's two premier football teams, who also shares the stadium as their home ground. It is also the home stadium of the [[Iran national football team]]. Because of the loud sound of [[vuvuzela]]s frequently used by spectators, similar to the sound of [[bee]]s, the stadium is sometimes referred to as a "[[bee swarm]]".<ref>[https://bugaga.ru/interesting/1146739967-25-samyh-pugayuschih-stadionov-v-mire.html bugaga.ru — 25 самых пугающих стадионов в мире (25 Most intimidating stadiums in the world)] In Russian</ref>

==Location== The stadium is located in western [[Tehran]]'s [[District 22 (Tehran)|District 22]], adjacent to [[Ekbatan|Ekbatan Town]].

==History== [[File:Azadi Stadium VIP entrance.jpg|thumb|left|VIP façade of the stadium]]

The Aryamehr Stadium was constructed by [[Arme Construction Company]] and designed by Aziz Farman-Farmaian's architecture firm, AFFA, for the [[1974 Asian Games]] with international criteria. It replaced the [[Shahid Shiroudi Stadium|Amjadieh Stadium]] as the new home of Iran's national football team.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

The stadium was built as part of a much larger complex which included numerous Olympic-sized venues for various sports, laying the groundwork for ambitious plans for Tehran to make a bid to host the [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer Olympics]]. In August 1975, the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Iranian Shah]], Tehran's Mayor and the [[List of IOC country codes|Iranian Olympic Committee]] submitted a formal letter to the [[International Olympic Committee]], notifying it of Iran's interest in hosting the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Games]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160826043752/http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1975/ore95/ore95zb.pdf http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1975/ore95/ore95zb.pdf]</ref> The stadium was the focal point for the bid. But political unrest in the late 1970s saw Tehran drop its bid for the Games, leaving the eventual host, [[Los Angeles]], the only city left bidding.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Renovations first began on the stadium in 2002. Stadium management also planned to later install seats in the upper level of the stadium. Those renovations were completed in 2003 and brought down the capacity of the stadium to well under 100,000. Later upgrades to the stadium brought it down to its current capacity of 78,116. Despite its reduced capacity, Azadi Stadium has been filled over capacity at times, such as the [[Iran national football team|Iran]]-[[Japan national football team|Japan]] [[2006 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup 2006]] qualification match in March 2005, which resulted in the deaths of seven people.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 2004, a large Jumbotron television was added, replacing the original scoreboard. The stadium hosted two [[West Asian Football Federation Championship]] in 2004 and 2008. In 2008, [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] forced [[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]] to play the home matches in [[2008 AFC Champions League|AFC Champions League]] in this stadium after their home stadium [[Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium]] was closed for renovation. The stadium is also the regular host for [[Iran national under-23 football team|Iran U-23]] for the Olympic football qualifying.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In recent years, the Iranian Football Federation has repeatedly submitted bids to host the [[AFC Asian Cup]], which Iran last hosted in [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]. But some officials have hinted that rules in Iran banning women from stadiums like Azadi have kept international sports organizations from staging events there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/league-name/story/2334220/headline|title=Blatter: Iran must end stadium ban on women|website=espn.com|date=6 March 2015|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref> Iranian women have been banned from watching matches at Azadi Stadium since 1982.<ref>{{cite web|last=Payne|first=Marissa|date=11 July 2017|title=Iranian soccer stars call on government to repeal ban on women in stadiums|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/07/11/iranian-soccer-stars-call-on-government-to-repeal-ban-on-women-in-stadiums/|access-date=3 April 2018|website=washingtonpost|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref>

During the [[2026 Iran war]], a gathering of Iranian internal security forces at the nearby [[Azadi Indoor Stadium]] on 5 March was bombed by Israel and the United States, resulting in its complete destruction<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 March 2026|title= Israel, US intensify Iran strikes, targeting homes, hospitals, stadium|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/3/5/explosions-rock-tehran-as-israel-intensifies-strikes-on-government-sites|work=Al Jazeera|access-date=6 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 March 2026|title=Missile strike destroys 12,000-seat indoor arena at Tehran’s Azadi complex |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603051320 |access-date=6 March 2026 |website=Iran International |language=en}}</ref> and hundreds of [[Islamic Republic of Iran Army|Artesh]] and [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|IRGC]] casualties.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lieber |first=Dov |date=March 17, 2026 |title=Israel Is Hunting Down Iranian Regime Members in Their Hideouts, One by One |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-iran-leadership-528c6114 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260318034747/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-iran-leadership-528c6114 |archive-date=March 18, 2026 |access-date=March 18, 2026 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> Some initial reports confused the far smaller Indoor Stadium with Azadi Stadium itself, which is located 500 meters away and not targeted.

==Events== *[[1974 Asian Games|1974 Asian Games (Tehran 1974)]] and Opening and closing ceremony of tournament *[[1976 AFC Asian Cup]] and the Opening and closing ceremony of the tournament *[[1978 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations]] Final-1Leg *[[1990–91 Asian Cup Winners' Cup]] Final-2st Leg *[[1991 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations]] Final-1Leg *[[1992–93 Asian Cup Winners' Cup]] Final-2nd Leg *[[Afro-Asian Club Championship|1993 Afro-Asian Club Championship]] Final-1Leg *[[1993 ECO Cup]] *[[1997 West Asian Games]] were held at the stadium. *[[1998 LG Cup (Iran)|1998 LG Cup]] *[[1998–99 Asian Club Championship]] Semifinals, Third place match and Final *[[2001–02 Asian Club Championship]] Semifinals, Third place match and Final *[[2000–01 Asian Club Championship]] all Quarter-finals of West of Asia *[[AFC–OFC Challenge Cup|2003 AFC–OFC Challenge Cup]] *[[2001 LG Cup (Iran)|2001 LG Cup]] *[[2002 LG Cup (Iran)|2002 LG Cup]] *[[2003 LG Cup (Iran)|2003 LG Cup]] *[[2004 WAFF Championship]] *[[2008 WAFF Championship]] *[[2010 Islamic Solidarity Games|2010 Solidarity Games]] in Tehran *In November 1975, [[Frank Sinatra]] held [[Frank Sinatra: Live at Aryamehr Stadium|a concert]] at Aryamehr Stadium. *The 2006 film ''[[Offside (2006 Iranian film)|Offside]]'' (the winner of the Silver Bear at the 2006 [[Berlin International Film Festival]]), about girls trying to get into Azadi Stadium to watch a football match, was filmed on location at the stadium. *Azadi Stadium also hosted ''[[Ferdousi]] festival'' in May 2013. * 2015 [[Women's Islamic Games]] were held at the stadium. *[[2018 AFC Champions League]] Final-2nd Leg '''Nominated for'''

* [[1984 Summer Olympics]], and Opening and Closing ceremony of tournament<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-13 |title=مروری بر گذشته؛ ایران و میزبانی هایی که از دست رفت ؛ رویای تلخ المپیک 1984 و جام جهانی 1990 |url=https://www.tarafdari.com/node/1595248 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=طرفداری |language=fa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=40 سال پس از المپیک 1984؛ جشنواره‌ای که از تهران به لس‌انجلس رفت! |url=https://football360.ir/post/202407281/40-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%BE%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9-1984-%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%AA |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=فوتبال 360}}</ref><ref name="varzesh3.com">{{Cite web |title=روزی که تهران میزبان المپیک شد(عکس) |url=https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1346759/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=ورزش سه |language=fa}}</ref> * [[1990 FIFA World Cup]]<ref name="varzesh3.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-13 |title=مروری بر گذشته؛ ایران و میزبانی هایی که از دست رفت ؛ رویای تلخ المپیک 1984 و جام جهانی 1990 |url=https://www.tarafdari.com/node/1595248 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=طرفداری |language=fa}}</ref> * [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]], [[2019 AFC Asian Cup]], [[2027 AFC Asian Cup]]

==Building and facilities== The architect of the stadium was [[Abdol-Aziz Mirza Farmanfarmaian|Abdolaziz Farmanfarmaian]], with some parts of the complex done in partnership with [[Skidmore, Owings & Merrill]]. The structural engineer and project manager for the building of the stadium was James Raymond Whittle from [[England]]. At its opening, the stadium had a maximum capacity of 120,000 visitors; this was reduced to 84,000 after renovations in 2003. On big occasions, the crowd swells well beyond that. {{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

==Transportation== There is enough parking for 400 cars inside the stadium, and an additional 10,000 parking spots are available outside.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

==Record attendance== The record attendance at Azadi Stadium is over 128,000, during a [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC–OFC play-off)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier]] against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]].<ref name="fifa97">{{cite web|title=Classic Football Matches Qualifiers |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=8705/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425053310/https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=8705/index.html|archive-date=25 April 2013|access-date=20 March 2015|website=FIFA|publisher=fifa.com}}</ref>

==See also== *[[List of association football stadiums by capacity]] *[[Football in Iran]] *[[Azadi Sport Complex]] *[[Azadi Tower]] *[[Lists of stadiums]]

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Azadi Stadium}} *[http://www.azadisportcomplex.com/ Official website of the Azadi Sports Complex]

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}} {{succession box | title=[[Asian Games]] Opening and closing ceremonies | before=[[National Stadium (Thailand)|National Stadium]] [[Bangkok]] | after=[[National Stadium (Thailand)|National Stadium]] [[Bangkok]] | years='''1974''' }} {{succession box | title=[[AFC Asian Cup]] Final venue | before=[[Suphachalasai Stadium|National Stadium]] [[Bangkok]] | after=[[Sabah Al-Salem Stadium]] [[Kuwait City]] | years='''1976''' }} {{succession box | title=[[Asian Club Championship]] Final venue | before=[[Hong Kong Stadium]] [[Hong Kong]] | after=[[King Fahd Stadium]] [[Riyadh]] | years=[[Asian Club Championship 1998-99|1999]] }} {{succession box | title=[[Asian Club Championship]] Final venue | before=[[Suwon Sports Complex]] [[Suwon]] | after=[[Rajamangala Stadium]] [[Bangkok]] | years=[[Asian Club Championship 2001-02|2002]] }} {{succession box | title=[[West Asian Football Federation Championship]] Final venue | before=[[Abbasiyyin Stadium]] [[Damascus]] | after=[[Amman International Stadium]] [[Amman]] | years='''[[2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship|2004]]''' }} {{succession box | title=[[West Asian Football Federation Championship]] Final venue | before=[[Amman International Stadium]] [[Amman]] | after=[[King Abdullah Stadium]] [[Amman]] | years='''[[2008 West Asian Football Federation Championship|2008]]''' }} {{end}}

[[Category:Sports venues in Tehran]] [[Category:Football in Tehran]] [[Category:Football venues in Iran]] [[Category:Persepolis F.C.|Stadium]] [[Category:National stadiums|Iran]] [[Category:Stadiums of the Asian Games]] [[Category:Asian Games athletics venues]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1973]] [[Category:Abdol-Aziz Mirza Farmanfarmaian buildings]]