Vanadzor’s stadium will undergo major reconstruction to comply with UEFA standards. On August 7, the Armenian government approved the urgent acquisition of services for developing the necessary project documentation, opting for a fast-track “urgent single-source” procurement method.
The urgency is tied to Armenia’s bid to host the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup, reported Armenpress.
Armenia and Georgia have jointly submitted a bid to host the tournament, which has already gained UEFA’s preliminary support. However, final approval depends on meeting technical infrastructure requirements.
A key condition is to have at least one UEFA Category 4 stadium. Building such facilities is part of the Armenian government’s 2024–2030 physical culture and sports development strategy, adopted on December 7, 2023.
According to this plan, Armenia will construct three new stadiums: one national and two regional venues, each seating at least 10,000 spectators. The national stadium is planned within the framework of the Academic City initiative. After extensive evaluations, Vanadzor was selected as the site for one of the regional stadiums.
Currently, the city has a non-operational 3,000-seat stadium that will be renovated and expanded with a new stand. The full design phase is expected to be completed within eight months. Due to required architectural and state-level reviews, construction is tentatively set to begin in June 2026.
Two construction companies have proposed a 24-month timeline for completing the project.
