Franso Hariri Stadium

Arbil FC

The Franso Hariri Stadium (Arabic ملعب فرانسو حريري ) is a stadium in Arbil.

The Iraqi Fußballerstligist Arbil FC denies its home games in this stadium. Construction and stadium opening took place in 1992. The stadium holds 40,000 spectators, making it the second largest in Iraq after the Al- Shaab Stadium in Baghdad.

Franso Hariri, former Assyrian politician and senior member of the Kurdish KDP, was murdered on February 18, 2001 on his way to work by four members of the radical Ansar al -Islam. In recognition of the stadium was named after him.

On 10 July 2009 the first international match of the Iraqi national football team took place since the Iraq war in Franso Hariri Stadium and ended with a 3-0 win for the home team over Palestine. On 15 July 2009, the Asian Football Federation announced that Iraqi teams and clubs may play international games in this stadium in the future.

The Franso Hariri Stadium is also the home of the Kurdish football selection. In June 2012, the final between the Republic of Northern Cyprus and the host of the Kurdistan Viva World Cup took place in Franso Hariri Stadium. The game ended 2-1 for Kurdistan and it was also the first win of the Viva World Cup for Kurdistan.

• Football stadium in Iraq
• Football stadium in Asia