At the construction site of the Ethiopian National Stadium, a crane slowly rises and a huge conversion beam is precisely positioned under the gaze of hundreds of builders. Applause and cheers erupted from the scene - this not only advances the construction progress, but also signifies that the largest sports stadium in East Africa has officially entered a critical stage of main structure construction, accelerating towards the goal of being put into operation by 2027.

62000 New African Roof Landmarks

The official name of the Ethiopian National Stadium is Adey Abeba International Stadium, located in the Bole District of the capital Addis Ababa, only about 3 kilometers from Bole International Airport. The total construction area is about 100000 square meters, which can accommodate 62000 spectators. It is the largest and first large-scale sports stadium in Ethiopia with the ability to host international sports events. The venue design incorporates elements of traditional Ethiopian culture, and the architectural appearance inspired by Massob, the traditional woven food basket of Ethiopia, combines modern sports venues with traditional aesthetics. The facilities include 1200 bathrooms, 800 hand washing stations, VIP private rooms, and a media center. The stadium is also equipped with a smart city hub, including 5G integrated light poles, granite trails, and GrassMaster mixed lawns, which meet the standards of FIFA and African Football Confederation events.

$130 million renewal contract landed

The construction process of the Ethiopian National Stadium spans nearly a decade. The project officially started construction in 2016, but its progress was hindered in 2020 due to the impact of the epidemic. On March 31, 2025, China Communications Construction Corporation (CCCC) signed a contract with the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sports for the extension of the second and third sections of the second phase, with a contract amount of approximately 139 million US dollars. At the signing ceremony, the Minister of Culture and Sports of Ethiopia, Shewit Shankar, stated that the Ethiopian National Stadium is an important venue for the 2029 African Cup football tournament and represents Ethiopia's international image. Previously, the first and second phases of the project, Section 1, have been funded by the Abu Dhabi government with a total investment of 57 million US dollars. After China Communications Construction Corporation took over, the project entered the fast lane. In March 2026, Song Hailiang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Communications Construction Corporation, went to the project site to emphasize the need to make the project a model project. As of now, the overall progress of the project has reached 58%. Keywords: Infrastructure News Network, International Cooperation, Sports Stadium

Running for the African Cup in 2027

Ethiopia has officially submitted its application to host the 2029 African Cup of Nations, and members of the African Football Confederation Executive Committee have publicly expressed confidence in Ethiopia's ability to host the tournament. The stadium is expected to officially open in 2027, and once completed, it will be the most important sports landmark in East Africa, with the primary goal of hosting the 2029 African Cup of Nations. At the same time, the stadium will also serve as the venue for large-scale international summits and become the home stadium of the Ethiopian national football team Walias. The construction area of about 100000 square meters means a massive procurement demand for steel structures, membrane structure roofs, curtain walls, mechanical and electrical equipment, lighting systems, seats, lawns, intelligent systems, and other categories. The project has launched public procurement tenders for PEX pipes, wooden bridges, fire-resistant rock wool, tiles, lighting fixtures, and other categories. As the project accelerates, the equipment procurement list for related categories is continuously expanding.Editor/Gao Xue