Ethiopia’s Adey Abeba Stadium pitch approved by FIFA; international fixtures unlikely

The Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sport says the playing pitch at Adey Abeba Stadium has been granted FIFA accreditation following a test conducted in December 2025. The ministry stated that the pitch received a high ranking from FIFA.

Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sport Shewit Shanka stated that the playing pitch received an overall score of 86% following a test conducted by FIFA Quality on December 22, 2025.

The stadium, located in Addis Ababa, is still undergoing construction. Ethiopia hopes to finish construction soon, as the nation has officially bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The 62,000-seater stadium is expected to be the main football stadium in the country.

Adey Abeba Stadium Secures FIFA Pitch Accreditation

Although the playing pitch of the stadium has been accredited by FIFA, Adey Abeba Stadium is far from hosting international games.

Pan-Africa Football understands that Ethiopia playing São Tomé at the Adey Abeba Stadium in the AFCON 2027 preliminary round in March is highly unlikely. A similar accreditation was granted to Dire Dawa Stadium, but the stadium failed to host international games involving the Walias. Ethiopia has remained on CAF’s stadium ban list for the past couple of years.