Zimbabwe’s National Sports Stadium has been granted CAF Category 3 approval, clearing the way for the country to host major international football matches at home for the first time in years.
The approval by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) follows a recent technical inspection and progress on priority rehabilitation works at the Harare stadium.
Under the Category 3 classification, the stadium is eligible, subject to competition-specific requirements, to host CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup group-stage and quarter-final matches, as well as Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The development is a major boost for Zimbabwe’s efforts to restore the National Sports Stadium as the country’s premier football venue after years of concerns over its suitability for international fixtures.
The Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture said CAF had recognised the efforts of the Government and the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) in addressing deficiencies identified during previous inspections.
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Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe welcomed the development, saying it would allow Zimbabweans to once again experience major international sporting events on home soil.
Zimbabwe has been forced to play senior international matches away from home since the Warriors’ 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia on November 14, 2021, which was the last senior international match staged in the country before the stadium was ruled unsuitable.
The Warriors subsequently played their home fixtures in South Africa and other neighbouring countries.
The return of international football to Harare comes at a crucial time, with Zimbabwe preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, whose group-stage campaign is scheduled to begin during the September/October FIFA international window.
The approval is also significant for Scottland FC, who will now be able to stage their CAF Champions League home matches in Zimbabwe, potentially through the quarter-final stage, subject to CAF’s competition requirements.
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