- Address: Riyadh
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Capacity: 68,000
- Opened: 1987
- Main use: Football
- Tenants: Al-Hilal (football)
Extra stadium info – King Fahd International Stadium
The construction of the King Fahd International Stadium, which is named after a former Saudi king, started in 1982. It became a venue for several events, like athletics, concerts, football and wrestling. The stadium opened as the largest sports venue by capacity in Saudi Arabia. In the 1980s, it became the stadium with the largest roof in the world. The roof provides shade and comfort in the hot desert climate.
Youth football at the King Fahd International Stadium
The stadium hosted its first final of the tournament which is currently known as the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1989. The football match was won by the Portuguese Republic after defeating Nigeria 2-0. 65,000 spectators showed up for the final. Abel Jorge Pereira da Silva scored the first goal of the game and Jorge António Pinto do Couto scored the second goal of the game.
The national football team of Saudi Arabia
The national football team of Saudi Arabia played numerous home games at the King Fahd International Stadium. On 16 December 1984, they were crowned Asian football champions for the first time in their history. They won the title after beating China in the final of the Asian championship for national football teams. The match took place in Singapore in front of a crowd of 26,000.
The 1994 FIFA World Cup
On 20 June 1994, the national football team of Saudi Arabia played their first FIFA World Cup game. They lost the match, which took place in the United States, against the Netherlands in front of 50,000 spectators. Saudi Arabia won their second world championship game against Morocco 2-1. They also won against Belgium in their third FIFA World Cup match. In the round of 16, Saudi Arabia were defeated by Sweden. The Swedes reached the semi-finals of the tournament.
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal SFC use the King Fahd International Stadium for home games. The football club was founded in 1957. Al-Hilal were crowned Saudi football champions various times. In 1991, they became the first Asian football champions from Saudi Arabia after beating Esteghlal from Iran in Qatar. In 2000, Al-Hilal SFC won its second Asian football championship title after defeating the Japanese club Júbilo Iwata 3-2. 40,000 fans attended the final, which took place at the King Fahd International Stadium.
The 2019 FIFA Club World Cup
Al-Hilal played their first-ever world championship match in 2019. They won the game against the Tunisian football club Espérance Sportive de Tunis. Al-Hilal faced Clube de Regatas do Flamengo from Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup. The Brazilians won the game. The world famous English side Liverpool FC won the tournament after defeating Flamengo 1-0. Roberto Firmino Barbosa de Oliveira, who was born in Brazil, scored the only goal of the game.
