Opening of Minsk’s New National Football Stadium Postponed Beyond May 2025

It has emerged that the long-awaited opening of the National Football Stadium in Minsk is being postponed indefinitely. Previously, it was planned to align this event with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in May 2025.

Official Confirmation of the Postponement

First Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Football Federation (BFF), Andrey Vasilevich, confirmed the information about the postponement of the opening in his official statement: “We planned to hold the Belarusian Cup final at the new National Stadium in Minsk. However, since the opening has been postponed to a later date, meaning it will not occur in May, we cannot play the match there,” Vasilevich said. In this regard, at an extraordinary meeting of the BFF Executive Committee, a unanimous decision was made to hold the Belarusian Cup final in Grodno. The decisive match will take place on May 24 at the sports complex “Neman” stadium.

Project History

The idea of constructing the National Football Stadium emerged as early as summer 2018, when a decree was signed to erect a sports facility and an international-standard swimming pool financed by Chinese investment. Construction began in 2020, and it was initially planned to complete the work by the end of 2023. However, the coronavirus pandemic brought its own adjustments, and the deadlines were extended by a year.

Features of the New Stadium

The new sports facility, located at the intersection of Partizansky Avenue and Vaneeva Street, near the “Traktor” arena, promises to become the largest stadium in the country:

• Capacity — 33,000 spectators (10,000 more than the Dynamo Stadium)
• Two-tiered stands with a VIP zone and skyboxes between levels
• Playing field dimensions — 105 by 68 meters (compliant with FIFA requirements for hosting world-class matches)
• Total field length including the auxiliary zone — 125 meters; width — 85 meters
• Natural grass surface
• Protective canopy for spectators against precipitation

Chinese Involvement in the Project

A distinctive feature of the project was that Chinese general contractors — the Beijing Municipal Construction Corporation and the Beijing Engineering and Construction Corporation — were in charge of the construction. By agreement, the Chinese side not only built the stadium but also undertook to maintain it for two years after it is commissioned.

This Season’s Instagrammable Location

Although the stadium has not yet been commissioned, its futuristic facades have already become a popular backdrop for photo sessions among Minsk residents. Photos against the new sports facility regularly appear on social networks, and the stadium itself has unofficially been dubbed one of the season’s most “Instagrammable” locations.

International-Class Swimming Pool

It is worth noting that, alongside the stadium, the Chinese contractors built the country’s largest swimming pool, which opened its doors to visitors in January 2025. The complex includes:

• Two 50-meter pools with 10 lanes
• One 25-meter pool with five lanes
• Water polo pool
• Diving pool
• Hydrotherapy channel
• Rehabilitation center with Finnish saunas, a hammam, and an infrared sauna
• Hydromassage hall and massage rooms
• Gym and fitness hall
• Badminton court

When Will the Opening Take Place?

At present, the exact date of the opening of the National Football Stadium has not been announced. Representatives of the BFF and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism have not yet commented on the reasons for the postponement or given specific promises regarding new timelines. However, given the high degree of readiness of the facility, it can be assumed that the opening will take place in the coming months. We will continue to monitor developments and inform you of any changes related to the opening of this new sports facility, which promises to become a true pride of Belarusian sports.