THE 30,000-seater Rizal Memorial Stadium is the first football pitch in the country to be given a 2-star accreditation by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (Fifa), the world’s football governing body.
This news was announced by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the official sports arm of the country.
This development means that the Rizal pitch becomes eligible to host major global tournaments, including top-tier Fifa competitions such as the World Cup.
Presently, the venue built in 1934 hosts football games of the United Football League (UFL), NCAA and the Philippine Azkals.
The Fifa accreditation is valid for a year. The PSC has the option to have the pitch re-tested if it wishes to renew its accreditation.
FIFA’s contracted technical testing company, Track Master, did the laboratory and field tests that measured the venue’s quality assurance as part of the Fifa quality programme.
A key factor in getting the accreditation was the installing of an artificial turf that was able to closely replicate natural grass.
The Rizal Memorial Stadium is not new to international sporting events as it hosted the 1981 Southeast Asian Games and several games of the Philippine Azkals. It underwent renovations in 2009.