Jinnah Sports Stadium () is a multi-purpose stadium in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is currently mostly used for football matches and serves as the home venue for the Pakistan national football team. The stadium has a capacity of 48,700 people, and is the largest stadium in Pakistan. The stadium is owned by the Pakistan Sports Board. The stadium is part of the Pakistan Sports Complex which also houses Liaquat Gymnasium, a gymnasium sports complex for indoor sports.

History

Early years Named after Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the stadium was built in the 1970s by China State Construction Engineering Corporation for hosting the 1978 Asian Games, which were ultimately shifted to Bangkok. The Liaquat Gymnasium nearby was formally inaugurated as part of the complex when Pakistan played host to the seventh 1984 Asian Table Tennis Championships.

Home of Pakistan football In 1986, it hosted the 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament for football matches. The stadium was first renovated and used for the South Asian Games in 1989. The same year, it also hosted the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification where Pakistan participated for the first time.

The stadium was once again chosen as a venue for the South Asian Games when Pakistan again hosted the event in 2004. Apart from being one of the main venues of several national sports events such as the National Games of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Inter Provincial Youth Games, or football events such as the Pakistan Premier League and the National Women Football Championship, the stadium has been a regular home venue for the Pakistan national football team since the 1980s. In 2014, the stadium hosted the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship for the Pakistan women national football team.

Refurbishments The stadium was first renovated to serve as host for the South Asian Games in 1989 with help of Chinese engineers.

After years of inactivity due to the ban on Pakistan Football Federation by FIFA, the stadium served as host after 11 years since Pakistan ever held an international football event, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification on 17 October 2023, which resulted in Pakistan's first ever victory in a World Cup qualifying match against Cambodia. Due to the scarcity of stadiums in Pakistan meeting FIFA standards, the stadium was refurbished including the grass, goalposts. For the matches at the next round, the stadium went more reforms upgrading the floodlights and seats.

Hosting history

Multi-sport events 1989 South Asian Games 2004 South Asian Games 2027 South Asian Games (proposed)

Football events 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 2014 SAFF Women's Championship 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Baseball events 2006 Asian Baseball Cup 2010 Asian Baseball Cup 2015 Asian Baseball Cup 2017 Asian Baseball Cup 2023 West Asia Baseball Cup

While football, baseball, and athletics have been the main international sports hosted at Jinnah Sports Stadium, the broader Islamabad Sports Complex has also hosted the 1984 Asian Table Tennis Championships and the 1988 Asian Wrestling Championships.

2013 National Games The National Games held in Islamabad from June 28 to July 4, 2013 took place at the Pakistan Sports Complex, with a colourful opening ceremony at Jinnah Stadium, inaugurated by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Around 2000 athletes from provincial and departmental teams competed across 29 Olympic sports, bringing a major multi-sport event back to the capital. Despite organisational challenges including disputes between factions of the Pakistan Olympic Association, the Games went ahead successfully. Pakistan Army emerged as the top-performing contingent, securing the overall winners’ trophy, while WAPDA and Punjab remained strong competitors throughout the week. Even with the off-field controversy, the Islamabad event became one of the city’s most significant sporting gatherings of the decade, showcasing national athletic talent and energising the country’s sports community.

Football tournaments

1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament The stadium was the venue for the 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament. DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance25 April 1986 Pakistan Greens1–0Round RobinN/A25 April 19865–0Round RobinN/A26 April 1986 Pakistan Greens1–0 South Korea XIRound RobinN/A26 April 1986 Pakistan Whites0–7Round RobinN/A27 April 19862–2Round RobinN/A27 April 1986 Pakistan Whites0–4 South Korea XIRound RobinN/A28 April 1986 Pakistan Whites2–3Round RobinN/A28 April 1986 Pakistan Greens0–3Round RobinN/A29 April 1986 South Korea XI5–0Round RobinN/A30 April 1986 South Korea XI4–0Round RobinN/A30 April 1986 Pakistan Greens7–0 Pakistan WhitesRound RobinN/A1 May 19863–0Round RobinN/A1 May 1986 Pakistan Whites0–2Round RobinN/A2 May 1986 Pakistan Greens5–0Round RobinN/A2 May 19861–1 South Korea XIRound RobinN/A

1989 South Asian Games The stadium was the venue for the 1989 South Asian Games. DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance20 October 19890–0Group stageN/A21 October 19893–0Group stageN/A22 October 19890–0Group stageN/A23 October 19891–1Group stageN/A24 October 19892–0Group stageN/A25 October 19892–1Group stageN/A26 October 19892–1Bronze medal matchN/A26 October 19891–0Gold medal matchN/A

2004 South Asian Games The stadium was the venue for the 2004 South Asian Games. DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance1 April 20041–0Group stageN/A1 April 20042–0Group stageN/A3 April 20044–1Knockout stageN/A3 April 20041–1Knockout stageN/A5 April 20040–0Bronze medal matchN/A5 April 20041–0Gold medal match37,000

2014 SAFF Women's Championship The stadium was the venue for the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship. DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance11 November 20141–2Group stage6,50012 November 20148–0Group stage2,00013 November 20148–0Group stage25013 November 20146–1Group stage5,00014 November 20143–0Group stage50014 November 20140–2Group stage1,70015 November 20141–0Group stage2,00015 November 20145–1Group stage2,00016 November 20143–0Group stage60016 November 20144–1Group stage4,00017 November 20140–12Group stage2,00017 November 20141–3Group stage90019 November 20145–0Semi-finals2,00019 November 20141–0Semi-finals5,00021 November 20146–0Final8,000

Marka-e-Haq Ceremony The Marka-e-Haq (“Battle of Truth”) Ceremony, held on 13 August 2025 in Islamabad, marked Pakistan's 78th Independence Day and celebrated its recent military victory in the Marka-e-Haq conflict. Attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and foreign dignitaries, the event featured military parades including contingents from Türkiye and Azerbaijan, an aerial fly-past by the Pakistan Air Force, cultural performances, fireworks, and the unveiling of a commemorative monument. In his address, the Prime Minister called for national unity through a “Charter of Pakistan’s Stability” and announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force Command. Earlier in the day, a grand defense exhibition at Shakarparian showcased military hardware from the conflict, while nationwide celebrations honored martyrs and reaffirmed Pakistan's sovereignty.

See also

List of stadiums in Pakistan

References