National Sports Complex Olimpiyskiy (Kyiv)

The National Sports Complex Olimpiyskiy (also known as the Olympic Stadium) is the national stadium of Ukraine, as well as Dynamo Kiev – the most successful club in Ukraine. Since 2020, Shakhtar Donetsk have also played their home matches at the stadium due to the ongoing war in the Donbas region.

The stadium originally opened in August 1923 to host the Second All-Ukrainian Spartakiad and was known as the Trotsky Red Stadium, before becoming the Red Stadium in 1924.

The original stadium lasted just 12 years before a complete reconstruction began and now to be known as the Republican Stadium with a capacity of 50,000. It was scheduled to be opened on the 22nd June 1941 with a Soviet Top League match between Dynamo Kiev and CDKA Moscow. However the match was postponed as the same day the German army began their invasion of the Soviet Union, with bombs falling on Kiev.

The stadium did officially open July 12th 1942 but was significantly damaged during the withdrawal of German troops in 1943. The reopening on June 25th 1944 saw Dynamo Kiev and CDKA Moscow play in the match originally scheduled for 1941.

The stadium was once again renamed in 1962 to Central Stadium and in 1967 underwent significant renovations which saw capacity raised to 100,000. The Soviet Union played an international match against Turkey in 1969 but did not return again until 1988 when they would play Austria and then lastly in 1989 as they defeated East Germany 3-0.

Six group matches of the 1980 Summer Olympics football tournament were held at the stadium, as well as a quarter-final in which East Germany defeated Iraq 4-0 as they would go on to win the Silver Medal. The stadium would be renamed the Olympic Stadium in 1996 in reference to the 1980 Olympics.

Further renovations followed in 1999 and again in 2011 as the Olimpiyskiy was selected to host the Final of UEFA Euro 2012, with capacity reduced to 70,050. Three group matches involving Sweden were played in the stadium, as well as the quarter-final in which Italy defeated England on penalties and then the Final itself with Spain crushing the Italians 4-0.

Dynamo Kiev have traditionally played their highest profile matches in the Olimpiyskiy, most notably the Second Leg of the 1975 European Super Cup as they defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 to win 3-0 on aggregate. The club’s traditional home is the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium but since 2011 have called Olimpiyskiy their main home.

The stadium hosted the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final in which Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 following two goals from Gareth Bale.

Tenants: Ukraine national football team, Dynamo Kyiv & Shakhtar Donetsk

Opened: 1923

Capacity: 70,050

Address: Velyka Vasylkivska St, 55, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000