| Fadil Vokrri Stadium | |
| Native Name: | Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri |
| Former Names: | Pristina City Stadium (until 2018) |
| Image Alt: | A stadium photographed by unmanned aerial vehicle |
| Location: | Pristina, Kosovo |
| Built: | 1951–1953 |
| Renovated: | 2016–2018, 2024–ongoing |
| Closed: | 2023 |
| Owner: | Municipality of Pristina |
| Operator: | FC Prishtina |
| Surface: | Natural grass (until 2024) Hybrid grass (from 2024) |
| Scoreboard: | LED |
| Cost: | €10.8 million |
| Capacity: | 13,980 |
| Record Attendance: | 25,000 |
| Dimensions: | 105x |
| Tenants: | FC Prishtina Kosovo national football team (selected matches) |
The Fadil Vokrri Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri), previously known as Pristina City Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi i qytetit të Prishtinës), is a multi-purpose stadium in Pristina, Kosovo, which is used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of FC Prishtina and the Kosovo national football team. The stadium has a capacity of 13,980.
The Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo underwent significant renovations between 2016 and 2018. This modernization project was largely driven by Kosovo's admission into UEFA and FIFA, which necessitated upgrades to meet international standards for hosting football matches.
The renovation included installing a new natural grass pitch, upgrading the seating to increase capacity to 13,429, and enhancing the overall infrastructure, including improved locker rooms, media facilities, and VIP areas. These updates aimed to create a more modern and comfortable environment for both players and spectators
The refurbished stadium officially reopened in 2018 and hosted its first match on September 10, 2018, where Kosovo secured a 2-0 victory against the Faroe Islands in a UEFA Nations League match . The renovations have since allowed the stadium to host numerous international fixtures and serve as the home ground for the Kosovo national team and FC Prishtina.
The renovation of Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina is set to commence in March 2024, focusing on extensive updates to the field. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MCYS) and the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) have announced that the renovations will include laying a new hybrid turf, upgrading the drainage and irrigation systems, and installing a heating system to ensure the field meets UEFA standards (https://kosovapress.com/eng/mcys-confirms-the-agreement-with-ffk-for-fadil-vokrri-the-details-are-revealed/) (https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2023/11/27/uefa-forces-kosovan-teams-play-outside-country-fadil-vokrii-pitch-declared-unplayable/).
This renovation is crucial as Fadil Vokrri Stadium is the only venue in Kosovo licensed by UEFA to host international matches. Due to the heavy usage and adverse weather conditions, the pitch has become unplayable, prompting UEFA to require that Kosovan teams play their home games abroad until the field is restored (https://telegrafi.com/mkrs-njofton-se-stadiumi-fadil-vokrri-te-shkoje-ne-rinovim-ne-muajin-mars/) (https://www.koha.net/en/local-football/414507/the-renovation-of-the-field-in-Fadil-Vokrri-starts%2C-the-opening-date-of-the-stadium-is-revealed).
The renovation work started in late March 2024 and is expected to be completed by early July, allowing the stadium to host matches in the next football season (https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2023/11/27/uefa-forces-kosovan-teams-play-outside-country-fadil-vokrii-pitch-declared-unplayable/) (https://www.koha.net/en/local-football/414507/the-renovation-of-the-field-in-Fadil-Vokrri-starts%2C-the-opening-date-of-the-stadium-is-revealed).
The stadium's construction began in 1951 and completed in 1953. It has been used by FC Prishtina since then.[1] On 9 June 2018, the stadium was renamed from Pristina City Stadium to Fadil Vokrri Stadium, following the death of Fadil Vokrri on the same day, who was a football administrator, player and lastly president of Football Federation of Kosovo. The change was announced by Shpend Ahmeti, the Mayor of Pristina.[2] [3]
On 17 December 2007 the stadium was filled with 25,000 people for first time after the Kosovo War in a concert by American rapper 50 Cent.[4] [5] On 10 July 2010. The American rapper Snoop Dogg performed in the stadium. This was the second international concert that was held in Pristina after that the 50 Cent concert in 2007 and over 10,000 people attended the concert.[6]
On 15 July 2012. The Albanian rapper Unikkatil held a concert which was the biggest Albanian concert ever held and 25,000 spectators attended the concert to see the “King” of Albanian rap.[7]
On 7 September 2002, it hosted for first time after Kosovo War a friendly match of Kosovo against Albania and finished with a 0–1 win for Albania.
| scope=col | scope=col | Date | scope=col | Competition | scope=col | Opponent | scope=col | Score | scope=col | scope=col class=unsortable | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row | Friendly | 0–1 | 25,000 | [8] [9] | |||||||||
| scope=row | 2–3 | 10,000 | [10] [11] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 1–0 | 10,700 | [12] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 2–0 | 6,700 | [13] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 2–2 | 38,000 | [14] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D3 | 2–0 | 12,667 | [15] | |||||||||
| scope=row | 3–1 | 12,365 | [16] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 4–0 | 13,000 | [17] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | Friendly | 2–2 | 13,000 | [18] | |||||||||
| scope=row | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | 1–1 | 12,580 | [19] | |||||||||
| scope=row | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | 2–1 | 12,678 | [20] | |||||||||
| scope=row | Friendly | 1–0 | 12,000 | [21] | |||||||||
| scope=row | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | 2–0 | 12,494 | [22] | |||||||||
| scope=row | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | 0–4 | 12,326 | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C3 | 1–2 | 0 | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 0–1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| scope=row | 1–0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| scope=row | Friendly | 4–0 | 0 | [23] | |||||||||
| scope=row | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | 0–3 | 0 | Report (FIFA) | |||||||||
| scope=row | Friendly | 4–1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | 1–1 | 1,200 | Report (FIFA) | |||||||||
| scope=row | 0–2 | 1,200 | Report (FIFA) | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 1–2 | 3,550 | Report (FIFA) | ||||||||||
| scope=row | Friendly | 0–2 | 1,000 | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 5–0 | ||||||||||||
| scope=row | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C2 | 0–1 | 12,300 | [24] | |||||||||
| scope=row | 3–2 | 11,700 | [25] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 5–1 | 10,400 | [26] | ||||||||||
| scope=row | Friendly | 2–2 | 2,000 | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 1–1 | ||||||||||||
| scope=row | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | 1–1 | 12,600 | ||||||||||
| scope=row | 0–0 | 11,000 | |||||||||||
| scope=row | 2–2 | 12,700 | |||||||||||
| scope=row | 1–0 | 5,245 | |||||||||||
| scope=row | 0–1 | 5,026 | |||||||||||
The stadium hosted the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League Preliminary Round Tournament.
The clubs involved were:
On 13 August 2018, after renovation was held a 2018 Kosovar Supercup between the winners of the 2017–18 Football Superleague of Kosovo, Drita and 2017–18 Kosovar Cup, Prishtina. Playing for the first time at the recently refurbished Fadil Vokrri Stadium.
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Gauthier Mankenda
Alen Jasharoski