Armenia approves €52.2m stadium projects in Vanadzor and Ijevan for 2029 U20 World Cup

The Armenian government has approved projects for the reconstruction of the football stadium in Vanadzor and the construction of a new arena in Ijevan. Both venues are expected to meet UEFA Category 4 requirements and have a capacity of at least 10,000 spectators.

The two stadiums will become key parts of the infrastructure for the 2029 FIFA U20 World Cup, which Armenia will co-host with Georgia.

Construction work is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, while both venues must be commissioned and receive the required certification no later than March 2029.

A total of 52 matches will be played at the U20 World Cup, with half of them expected to take place in Armenia. Under the current plan, 15–17 matches will be held in Yerevan, while another 9–11 games will be staged in Vanadzor and Ijevan.

The total value of the proposal for the two stadium projects is approximately €52.2 million, excluding VAT, import taxes and customs duties.

The combined contractual cost of the two venues is estimated at around €49.7 million, with a further €2.5 million set aside as a reserve to cover possible changes in construction material prices.

The reconstruction of the Vanadzor stadium is valued at €22.55 million, while the construction of the new stadium in Ijevan is estimated at approximately €27.17 million. The proposed timeframe for the work is 24 months.

The existing stadium in Vanadzor is set to undergo a major reconstruction, while the venue in Ijevan will be built from scratch.

On October 1, a meeting chaired by Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan was held to discuss preparations for the 2029 FIFA U20 World Cup.

During the meeting, an international design company presented the proposed solutions for the stadiums in Vanadzor and Ijevan, the implementation schedule and other key issues related to preparations for the tournament.

Khachatryan stressed the importance of ensuring that Armenia is properly prepared for the youth World Cup and that the necessary infrastructure is completed on time and in accordance with the required international standards.

The 2029 FIFA U20 World Cup will become the first major FIFA tournament to be staged in Armenia.