University of Mosul Stadium

The University of Mosul Stadium, often referred to as the Grand Stadium, sits inside a city that has recently emerged from damage. Where it once served as a military depot for rockets, it now sits beside the pitch. The current surface is artificial grass, which the local authorities plan to replace with natural grass approved internationally as part of the ongoing refurbishment.

Mosul FC , a club established in 1947, has played here for its entire history. The club’s youth system has produced players like Haris Mohammed, who captained Iraq at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and Hawar Mulla Mohammed, a winner of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. The club remains the primary tenant despite the facility being shared with university athletics and occasional local events, such as the Iraqi Universities Championship for Futsal in November 2023.

The capacity is a subject of debate; most football databases list the figure as 20,000, though older records suggest a smaller number. The ground is distinct from the Mosul Olympic Stadium, a larger venue currently under construction to eventually replace it.

The stadium carries a weight beyond its sport. For a time, it was known as the Stadium of Horrors. After the battle for Mosul in 2017, it hosted a peace festival on September 18, 2017, where thousands gathered for music and dancing to celebrate the end of the occupation.