Azadi Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Tehran, Iran. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of Iranian clubs Esteghlal and Persepolis, as well as the national team.
Opened on 18 October 1971, it replaced the Amjadieh Stadium. The seating capacity of Azadi Stadium is currently set at 78,116, making it the third-largest football stadium in Asia and the third-largest in the world outside the Americas. The stadium was designed by Abdolaziz Farmanfarmaian and Associates and had a construction cost of $800 million at the time.
A FIFA and AFC rated stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in the world, Azadi Stadium has hosted several important matches including the 1974, 1976, 2000 and 2004 AFC Asian Cup, as well as the 1976 and 2002 West Asian Games. It was also one of the venues for the 1976 Summer Olympics. By its fiftieth birthday, Azadi Stadium had welcomed more than 100 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Iran is hoping to co-host.
Although the previous stadium of the Iranian national team was also officially named 'Amjadieh Stadium', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Azadi Stadium. Azadi is the name of the neighborhood the stadium was built on, on the edge of Tehran, which itself derives its name from the nearby Azadi Tower (Freedom Tower). This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of Tehran used to simply call it Azadi ('Freedom'). Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Azadi Stadium', which is usually anglicized to 'Freedom Stadium'. This translation, however, could be argued to be inaccurate, since Azadi refers not to 'freedom' but to the original address of the stadium: Azadi Square ('Freedom Square'). The stadium is part of the much larger Azadi Sport Complex, and is surrounded by a rowing river, football training pitches, a weightlifting complex, swimming facilities and indoor volleyball and futsal courts, among other amenities. It is also easily accessible through Tehran's public transportation system. Azadi Stadium was constructed by Arme Construction Company and designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, an architectural firm based in Chicago, Illinois, in time for the 1974 Asian Games and has a seating capacity of 78,116 spectators, making it the third largest association football stadium in the world, the third largest stadium in Asia and the largest in the Middle East. The stadium has been renovated and upgraded numerous times over the years, keeping it modern and up to date with latest stadium facilities and technologies. It has also hosted numerous international matches and events apart from regular domestic football matches, and is a symbol of football in the country, having witnessed some of the most important and memorable moments in Iran's football history.
An appropriate site, easily accessible and with ample space for future expansion, was pinpointed at the western part of Tehran. Due to its location in the western part of the capital city, the new stadium was initially referred to as 'West Tehran Stadium'.
The club's goal was always to have possession of both the stadium and the surrounding lands. However, in the beginning, a lease was established on the municipal lands, with a final purchase taking place only in 1971. The plans for the sports complex were outlined as early as the late 1960s by Abdolaziz Farmanfarmaian, a former player for the club.
Guided by the club's president, Mehrab Shahrokhi, the members dealt with an increased fee to support the construction costs of the new stadium, offered significant donations, and some even voluntarily worked on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'steel campaign', where large amounts of steel rods were donated to the club.
The construction officially commenced on 9 October 1969. Less than three years later, and at a cost of 1,200,000,000 Rials, on 18 October 1971, a 100,000-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against Panathinaikos, a team from Greece.
Azadi Stadium (1971): A multi-purpose stadium located in Tehran, Iran, which is mostly used for association football matches and hosts the home games of Iranian clubs Esteghlal and Persepolis, as well as the national team. https://www.sportsandyouth.tehran.ir
Azadi Stadium (The Freedom Stadium) – until 2003: Detailed description of the stadium including its history, renovations, and other important details. http://www.stadiumdb.com
Azadi, Symbol of Freedom: A book that provides deep insights into the Azadi Stadium and its significance. https://www.amazon.com/Azadi-Symbol-Freedom/dp/9728820070
The History of Azadi Stadium: 50 Glorious Years - Part 1: A comprehensive book that chronicles the half-century history of the Azadi Stadium. https://www.amazon.com/History-Azadi-Stadium-Glorious-Years/dp/989554099X
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