Olympic Stadium Gets Seat Upgrade for FIFA-Standard Matches
25,000 backrest seats have been installed on the bleachers with funds from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Photo: FFC
- By Torn Chanritheara
- April 9, 2024 4:10 PM
PHNOM PENH – The National Olympic Stadium will now be able to welcome the public in better conditions after 25,000 backrest seats have been installed on the bleachers with funds from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).
Keo Sareth, the secretary general of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) said at the handover ceremony on Apr. 9 that the installation of the new seats was a specific requirement to be able to host FIFA or Asian Football Confederation (AFC)-standard matches.
Sareth said that after three months of work, 25,000 seats are now completely installed at the southern, eastern and northern stands of the stadium. The installation cost reached $498,750 which was provided by the AFF.
Three colors – white, blue and red – have been used, as a nod to Cambodia’s national flag. The new seat installation also has the word ‘National Stadium’ in the middle along with a white design of “pka chan” (star anise).
Combined with the western bleacher, which can seat 5,000 people under a roof and is often the grandstand for honorary guests, the stadium’s new capacity stands at 30,000 seats. It is a significant drop as the concrete stands were able to host up to 50,000 people.
Sareth said that the 21, 661 seats without backrests which were installed before the Southeast Asian Games in May 2023 were removed to make way for the new seats. They will be distributed among the 11 football clubs and associations to use at the stadiums.
AFF’s President Khiev Sameth said that the stadium now could serve in international matches which require high standards. Photo: Torn Chanritheara
The newly face-lifted stadium will host its first international match on June 7 when the Cambodian National Team will play against Mongolia.
AFF’s President Khiev Sameth said that the stadium now could serve in international matches which require high standards. He said that this was the first time that the AFF provided funds for such a project.
“AFF has more funds to support its members,” he said.
AFF consists of football associations from 10 ASEAN countries plus Timor-Leste and Australia.
Sameth also hinted that AFF would install a video assistant referee (VAR) for the upcoming matches to ensure fairness.
The regional club championship, Shopee Cup, will take place in July and run through May 21, 2025. Leading clubs from AFF’s members will take part in the championship.
Sameth said the AFF is considering installing mobile VAR at the participating club’s stadium but the feasibility will depend on the club's facility. More preparation will be needed to equip such technology across Cambodia’s main stadiums.
Later this year, the AFF Mitsubishi Cup – 11 national teams excluding Australia – will also take place. Sameth said that the VAR might be used at the semi-final stage.
In the past, Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium has already hosted international FIFA-level matches. But it received a special derogation to be able to host the meeting, as backrest seats were still to be installed.
