Thamir Stadium

There is something peculiar about this ground nestled in the Hawalli Governorate. You can see it from the road on Hamad Al-Mubarak Street.

The stadium opened in December 2004 . It was built for Al Salmiya Club, a team that has struggled to find a rhythm in the Kuwaiti Premier League. The venue holds 16,105 people.

The pitch is natural grass, surrounded by a red athletics track that gives the place a slightly utilitarian feel. It is not a pretty sight.

It does host the national team. Kuwait played Portugal here in 2007, a game that ended in a 1–1 draw. They also beat Lebanon 3–2 in 2008. The stadium has never held a major tournament final; those games go to the larger venues in Kuwait City.

The ground is named after Thamer Ali Al-Sabah, a member of the ruling family. There are no sponsorship titles, no history of renaming.