Bahrain National Stadium

About Bahrain National Stadium

Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa is the country's main football stadium and home of the Bahrain national team. Built in the early 1980s and opened in 1982, it holds about 24,000 spectators on a grass pitch. Club sides including Al-Riffa SC and Al Khaldiya also use it for league and continental matches.

It was renovated ahead of the 21st Arabian Gulf Cup, which Bahrain hosted in early 2013. Work included new seating, sports lighting, a new roof, a new scoreboard and a replacement athletics track. The stadium is also used for combat sports and large public events.

Its biggest non-football occasion came on 5 November 2022, when Pope Francis celebrated mass at the stadium during his visit to Bahrain, with King Hamad in attendance. It was the first papal mass held in the kingdom, and the stadium was temporarily refitted with a central stage for the occasion.

For visitors, a national team match is the best way to experience the venue, with lively home crowds for Gulf Cup and World Cup qualifiers. League matches are cheaper and quieter. Check the Bahrain Football Association's channels and club social media for fixtures, kick-off times and ticket details.

Highlights

• Home of the Bahrain national team
• About 24,000 capacity
• Opened 1982, renovated 2012
• Host of the 21st Arabian Gulf Cup
• Papal mass in November 2022

Good to know

• Fixtures are announced by the Bahrain Football Association and clubs.
• Arrive early for national team matches, when traffic is heavy.
• Evening kick-offs are common in the cooler months.
• The stadium sits in Riffa, close to the Isa Town and Riffa road network.

Getting there

In Riffa, reached by car via the main north to south highways.

Questions people ask