CSKA Sofia has played its first match at the redeveloped Bulgarian Army Stadium in the Bulgarian capital.
CSKA drew 0–0 with Slavia Sofia with a crowd of around 18,500 fans filling the stands of the unique stadium in a memorable moment for the club community and Bulgarian football.
The Bulgarian Army Stadium redevelopment has created a modern, football-specific stadium with a capacity of 18,540 for domestic league matches and 16,819 under its UEFA Category 4 configuration.
The opening celebrations began three hours before kick-off, and some of the greatest legends in CSKA’s history, including Dimitar Yakimov, Georgi Denev and Hristo Stoichkov, appeared before the sea of Army fans in the stands.
CSKA Sofia is a Bulgarian professional football club based in Sofia and currently competing in the country’s premier football competition, the First League. CSKA is an abbreviation for Central Sports Club of the Army.
CSKA has been playing its home matches at the Vasil Levski National Stadium while its traditional ground was being rebuilt.
The Bulgarian Army Stadium is the home ground of the Bulgarian football club CSKA Sofia. It’s situated in the Borisova gradina park in the center of Sofia, Bulgaria.
The last match was played at the old stadium in December 2023 and it was then demolished. Construction on the new stadium kicked off in September 2024 and it was completed two years later.
The new venue has no athletics track, bringing spectators closer to the pitch. All stands are now covered with a roof, with seating arranged to provide clear views of the pitch. The stadium incorporates updated entrance and exit arrangements designed to improve crowd movement and safety.
New facilities include VIP boxes, a restaurant, food and beverage kiosks, a club shop, a museum, media facilities and multifunctional spaces for events beyond football.
Some of the hospitality and commercial areas are intended to operate throughout the year.
The project includes pitch heating, drainage and irrigation with water recirculation, modern LED lighting and energy-efficiency measures.
The design also incorporates solar panels and a façade intended to help limit noise reaching nearby areas.
The stadium footprint has been reduced by approximately 3,800 square meters and includes 300 new trees and publicly accessible green spaces and pathways.
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