In Ukraine, football is the nation’s most popular sport, even though the footballing history as an independent country is not so long.
The year of 2012 was probably the most important for Ukraine’s National Football team as they hosted EURO 2012, together with Poland. The matches in Ukraine were played on the stadiums of Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk.
There are 2 UEFA Elite level stadiums in the country: Olimpiysky National Sports Complex and the Donbass Arena.
With a population of over 43 million, there really are an incredibly wide-ranging amount of stadiums in Ukraine, in both size and style.
Let's have a look at our TOP 10 pick of the best stadiums in Ukraine.
Which are the TOP 10 stadiums in Ukraine?
10. Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium
Capacity: 16,873
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Dynamo Kyiv
The "Dynamo Stadium", now named after legendary coach of the Dynamo Kyiv Valeriy Lobanovskyi, was built in 1934.
It is a multi-functional stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine. It was supposed to be the home ground of FC Dynamo Kyiv, but the club uses the bigger NSC Olympiyskiy.
The Dynamo Stadium is also an alternative option for the Ukrainian National Football team.
9. Oleksiy Butovskyi Vorskla Stadium
Capacity: 24,795
Location: Poltava, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Vorskla Poltava
"Oleksiy Butovsky Vorskla Stadium", opened in 1951, is a stadium in Poltava, Ukraine and is the home of FC Vorskla Poltava.
"Vorskla" hosted the Ukraine Cup final in 2014.
8. Ukraina Stadium
Capacity: 28,051
Location: Lviv, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Karpaty Lviv
"Ukraina Stadium" is a stadium in Lviv, Ukraine and currently is the home of FC Karpaty Lviv.
"Ukraina" is also one of the alternative stadiums for the Ukraine National Football team where they played several qualification games.
During Soviet times, the stadium was called "Druzhba", which means "friendship".
7. Metalurh Stadium
Capacity: 29,734
Location: Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih
Metalurh Stadium is located in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, built in 1970.
During the Soviet period, it was used by FC Dnipro and then became the home ground of FC Kryvbas, before the club went bankrupt in 2013.
On 5 February 2021, the stadium was completely demolished for reconstruction. It is expected that the stadium's capacity will decrease to 16,750.
6. Dnipro Arena
Capacity: 31,003
Location: Dnipro, Ukraine
Image Source: SC Dnipro-1
The "Dnipro Arena" was officially opened on 14 September 2008, replacing old "Soviet Metalurh Stadium" which existed since 1940.
The stadium was chosen as a venue for EURO 2012, but was dropped from the list due to the capacity requirement of 33,000 seats.
"Dnipro Arena" hosted the 2009 Ukrainian Cup final, where Vorskla Poltava won over Shakhtar Donetsk with a score of 1–0.
5. Chornomorets Stadium
Capacity: 34,164
Location: Odesa, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Chornomorets Odesa
"Chornomorets Stadium" was built in 2011, in the place of the old "Central Stadium" in Odesa. It is the home ground of FC Chornomorets Odesa.
The venue was supposed to be one of the stadiums of EURO 2012, but UEFA ruled it out due to uncertainties in the building schedule.
4. Arena Lviv
Capacity: 34,915
Location: Lviv, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Lviv
"Arena Lviv" was built as a playing venue for the EURO 2012 and during the tournament three group-stage matches were played at the stadium.
It is the home ground for both FC Lviv and Rukh Lviv.
3. Metalist Stadium
Capacity: 40,003
Location: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv
"Metalist Stadium", opened in 1926 by order of Armenian politician Anastas Mikoyan, is a football stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
The stadium was one of the venues for EURO 2012 and currently is the home ground of FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv.
Since 2016, FC Shakhtar also started playing some of their matches at Metalist Stadium, as they were unable to play in their home stadium "Donbass Arena" due to the armed conflict in Donetsk.
2. Donbass Arena
Capacity: 50,187
Location: Donetsk, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Shakhtar Donetsk
The "Donbass Arena" was opened on 29 August 2009 in Donetsk city centre.
The stadium used to be FC Shakhtar Donetsk's home ground.
It also hosted group D stage games, one quarter-final and one semi-final match of EURO 2012, as UEFA classified the venue as an Elite category stadium. The stadium got damaged and was closed due to the War in Donbass in 2014, but despite the on-going conflict, the venue is slowly being repaired.
1. NSC Olimpiyskiy
Capacity: 70,050
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Image Source: FC Dynamo Kyiv
National Sports Complex “Olimpiyskiy”, also known as "Kyiv Olympic Stadium", is the biggest and main sport and cultural arena of Ukraine.
The stadium is the home venue of Ukrainian National Stadium and FC Dynamo Kyiv.
More than 150 football matches has been held there since its opening.
The stadium hosted 3 group matches, a quarter-final and the final between Spain and Italy during EURO 2012.
On 26 May 2018, NSC Olimpiyskiy has been selected to host the UEFA Champions League final, where Real Madrid beat Liverpool with a score of 3-1.
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