# Fadil Vokrri Stadium

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 FK Priština and the Serbia national football team. The stadium has a capacity of 13,980.

## Renovation
### Renovation 2016-2018

The renovation of the Fadil Vokrri Stadium, located in Pristina, Kosovo, took place between 2016 and 2018. The stadium, which is the home ground for the Kosovo national football team and FC Prishtina, underwent significant upgrades to meet UEFA and FIFA standards, allowing it to host international matches.
Key Aspects of the Renovation:
1. Capacity Increase: The stadium's seating capacity was increased to accommodate approximately 13,980 spectators.
2. Infrastructure Improvements: The renovation included upgrading the stadium's infrastructure, such as improving the pitch, installing modern seating, and enhancing the overall safety and comfort for fans.
3. Facilities Upgrade: New facilities were added, including modern locker rooms, media areas, VIP sections, and hospitality suites. The lighting and sound systems were also upgraded to meet international standards.
4. UEFA and FIFA Certification: Post-renovation, the stadium was certified by UEFA and FIFA, making it eligible to host international matches. This was a significant milestone for Kosovo, especially following its acceptance into these organizations in 2016.
5. Naming: The stadium was renamed in honour of Fadil Vokrri, a legendary Kosovar footballer and former president of the Football Federation of Kosovo, following his passing in 2018. He was a key figure in promoting Kosovar football on the international stage.
The renovation was a major development for sports in Kosovo, enabling the country to host international football matches on home soil for the first time, marking a new era for Kosovar football.

### Renovation 2024

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.
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.
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.

## Conditions

As of 2024, Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo, is undergoing significant renovations, particularly focusing on upgrading the playing field. A new hybrid grass surface is being installed, making it the first of its kind in Kosovo. This renovation is a major improvement after the stadium was criticized for poor field conditions, leading to its temporary closure in late 2023. UEFA even prohibited certain matches from being held there due to the damaged field. The renovation, funded by Kosovo's Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports with a budget of €1.3 million, includes installing modern heating and irrigation systems, ensuring the stadium meets international standards. The upgrades are expected to be completed in time for the Kosovo national team's upcoming matches later in 2024

## History

The stadium's construction began in 1951 and completed in 1953. It has been used by FC Prishtina since then. 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.

### Notable events
#### International concerts

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. 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.
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.

#### International matches

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.
| # | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score | Att. | Ref |
| 1 | 7 September 2002 (2002-9-7) | Friendly | Albania | 0–1 | 15,000 | |
| 2 | 17 February 2010 (2010-2-17) | Friendly | Albania | 2–3 | 10,000 | |
| 3 | 7 September 2014 (2014-9-7) | Friendly | Oman | 1–0 | 10,700 | |
| 4 | 10 October 2015 (2015-10-10) | Friendly | Equatorial Guinea | 2–0 | 6,700 | |
| 5 | 13 November 2015 (2015-11-13) | Friendly | Albania | 2–2 | 16,000 | |
| 6 | 10 September 2018 (2018-9-10) | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D3 | Faroe Islands | 2–0 | 12,667 | |
| 7 | 11 October 2018 (2018-10-11) | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D3 | Malta | 3–1 | 12,365 | |
| 8 | 20 November 2018 (2018-11-20) | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D3 | Azerbaijan | 4–0 | 13,000 | |
| 9 | 21 March 2019 (2019-3-21) | Friendly | Denmark | 2–2 | 13,000 | |
| 10 | 25 March 2019 (2019-3-25) | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | Bulgaria | 1–1 | 12,580 | |
| 11 | 7 September 2019 (2019-09-07) | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | Czech Republic | 2–1 | 12,678 | |
| 12 | 10 October 2019 (2019-10-10) | Friendly | Gibraltar | 1–0 | 12,000 | |
| 13 | 14 October 2019 (2019-10-14) | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | Montenegro | 2–0 | 12,494 | |
| 14 | 17 November 2019 (2019-11-17) | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | England | 0–4 | 12,326 | — |
| 15 | 6 September 2020 (2020-9-6) | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C3 | Greece | 1–2 | 0 | — |
| 16 | 11 October 2020 (2020-10-11) | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C3 | Slovenia | 0–1 | 0 | — |
| 17 | 18 November 2020 (2020-11-18) | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C3 | Moldova | 1–0 | 0 | — |
| 18 | 24 March 2021 (2021-3-24) | Friendly | Lithuania | 4–0 | 0 | |
| 19 | 28 March 2021 (2021-3-28) | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Sweden | 0–3 | 0 | Report (FIFA) |
| 20 | 1 June 2021 (2021-6-1) | Friendly | San Marino | 4–1 | 0 | |
| 22 | 5 September 2021 (2021-9-5) | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Greece | 1–1 | 1,200 | Report (FIFA) |
| 23 | 8 September 2021 (2021-9-8) | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Spain | 0–2 | 1,200 | Report (FIFA) |
| 24 | 12 October 2021 (2021-10-12) | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Georgia | 1–2 | 3,550 | Report (FIFA) |
| 25 | 10 November 2021 (2021-11-10) | Friendly | Jordan | 0–2 | 1,000 | |
| 26 | 24 March 2022 (2022-03-24) | Friendly | Burkina Faso | 5–0 | | |
| 27 | 5 June 2022 (2022-06-05) | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C2 | Greece | 0–1 | 12,300 | |
| 28 | 9 June 2022 (2022-06-09) | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C2 | Northern Ireland | 3–2 | 11,700 | |
| 29 | 27 September 2022 (2022-09-27) | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C2 | Cyprus | 5–1 | 10,400 | |
| 30 | 16 November 2022 (2022-11-16) | Friendly | Armenia | 2–2 | 2,000 | |
| 31 | 19 November 2022 (2022-11-19) | Friendly | Faroe Islands | 1–1 | | |
| 32 | 28 March 2023 (2023-03-28) | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Andorra | 1–1 | 12,600 | |
| 33 | 16 June 2023 (2023-06-16) | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Romania | 0–0 | 11,000 | |
| 34 | 9 September 2023 (2023-09-9) | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Switzerland | 2–2 | 12,700 | |
| 35 | 12 November 2023 (2023-11-12) | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Israel | 1–0 | 5,245 | |
| 36 | 21 November 2023 (2023-11-21) | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Belarus | 0–1 | 5,026 | |
| 37 | 6 September 2024 (2024-9-6) | 2024–2025 UEFA Nations League C2 | Romania | 0–3 | 12,872 | |
| 38 | 15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) | 2024–2025 UEFA Nations League C2 | Cyprus | 3–0 | 12,863 | |
| 39 | 18 November 2024 (2024-11-18) | 2024–2025 UEFA Nations League C2 | Lithuania | 1–0 | 12,856 | |

#### European matches

The stadium hosted the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League Preliminary Round Tournament.
The clubs involved were:
* Lincoln Red Imps
* FC Santa Coloma
* Tre Penne
* Feronikeli

### Inauguration

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.
| Drita | Prishtina |
| 31 | Edvan Bakaj |
| 5 | Ardian Limani |
| 4 | Fidan Gërbeshi 43' |
| 13 | Liridon Leci 67' |
| 11 | Përparim Livoreka 85' |
| 7 | Endrit Krasniqi 90+4' |
| 25 | Bujar Shabani |
| 27 | Eri Lamçja 55' 75' |
| 10 | Xhevdet Shabani |
| 93 | Haxhi Neziraj |
| 22 | Betim Haxhimusa |
| Substitutions: |
| 1 | Leutrim Rexhepi |
| 99 | Dorant Ramadani |
| 23 | Arbër Shala |
| 8 | Edenilson |
| 14 | Fillonit Shaqiri 75' |
| 16 | Albin Krasniqi 90+4' |
| 74 | Zgjim Mustafa |
| Manager: |
| Bekim Isufi |
| 12 | Visar Bekaj |
| 2 | Armend Thaqi |
| 8 | Ahmet Haliti |
| 3 | Jamal Arago |
| 13 | Abdul Bashiru |
| 21 | Argjend Mustafa |
| 66 | Ergyn Ahmeti |
| 15 | Gauthier Mankenda |
| 17 | Arbër Hoxha |
| 19 | Alen Jasharoski 84' |
| 9 | Basit Abdul Khalid |
| Substitutions: |
| 1 | Alban Muqiqi |
| 88 | Përparim Osmani |
| 16 | Donat Hasanaj |
| 5 | Diar Miftaraj |
| 7 | Lorik Boshnjaku 84' |
| 26 | Liridon Fetahaj |
| 22 | Kastriot Selmani |
| Manager: |
| Mirel Josa |