Stadium diplomacy is the construction of stadiums and sports facilities in other nations as a form of foreign aid with implementation also supporting the overseas expansion of donor-country construction contractors.
China is the most prominent practitioner of this strategy, using it as a form of soft power to bolster diplomatic ties. The practice dates back to at least 1958, when China funded the National Sports Stadium in Mongolia. The method contrasts from other methods such as stadium subsidy which uses taxpayers' money and gives it to the private sector to manage the facility and profit.
Chinese diplomacy
The following includes overseas stadiums and sports facilities that were either donated outright or built with financial assistance from the Chinese government, typically in the form of grants, concessional loans, or other aid-linked financing in cooperation with the host country. Projects carried out solely by Chinese construction firms on commercial terms, without financing support from the Chinese government, are not included.
Africa
Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda; Estádio Nacional do Chiazi in Cabinda; Ombaka National Stadium in Benguela; and Tundavala National Stadium in Lubango were all constructed by Chinese firms for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. One of the stadiums was provided at no direct cost, in exchange for Angola entering into two concessional loan agreements with China.
Friendship Stadium was built with Chinese help in 1982
Stade du 4 Août was built with a total cost of 4 billion CFA francs
Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex (2009) – A 5,000-seat indoor arena built in downtown Yaoundé as a gift from the Chinese government. Limbe Stadium (2012) and Kouekong Stadium (2016) in Bafoussam were both constructed by Chinese contractors with financing from concessional loans provided by the Export-Import Bank of China.
The 15,000 seater National Stadium (2013) construction by Top International Engineering began in 2010 and ended in 2013, at a cost of 1.4 billion Cape Verdean escudos, funded by the Chinese government.
Barthélemy Boganda Stadium was built from 2003 to 2006 at a cost of 12 billion CFA and seats 20,000 spectators.
A new 30,000 seater national stadium, to be named after N'Garta Tombalbaye, is being built in N'Djamena with total cost of 50 billion CFA franc.
Construction began in May 2025 on a China-aided stadium and swimming center.
Stade des Martyrs, opened in 1994 and was the second largest stadium at that time, was built by Chinese funds.
China State Construction Engineering was one of the companies which built various sport venues in Brazzaville for Congolese preparation to host 2015 All-Africa Games which includes a 60,000 seater main stadium, a multi-sports arena, and an indoor pool.
Djibouti City Stadium was built at the cost of 11 million USD between 1991 and 1993.
Estadio de Bata was built by China Overseas Engineering Group in 2007. Estadio de Malabo was also built with support from Chinese government.
Stade d'Angondjé, also called the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium, was a gift from Chinese government. Chinese government also helped in building Stade d'Oyem and Stade de Port-Gentil when Gabon was selected to host 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Independence Stadium was a gift by Chinese government and built in 1984.
Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium (2008) and Tamale Stadium (2008) were constructed with Chinese assistance, while Baba Yara Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium were renovated, all in preparation for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, supported by a soft loan of USD 31 million from the Chinese government. Cape Coast Sports Stadium (2016), a 15,000-seat multipurpose venue built by China Jiangxi Corporation at a reported cost of USD 30 million, was officially handed over to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as one of Ghana’s largest China-aided infrastructure projects at the time. In March 2025, following a temporary CAF suspension of Ghana’s stadiums for international matches, the government announced plans to renovate the Cape Coast facility and designate it as the exclusive home venue for the Black Stars.
Nongo Stadium is a 50,000 seater stadium finished in 2012 as a gift from Chinese government to the country. As Guinea was selected to host 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, an agreement was signed between two countries to further construct three more stadiums.
Estádio 24 de Setembro is built by China National Corporation For Overseas Economic Cooperation. The stadium was later refurbished with Chinese help.
Stade Olympique d'Ebimpé, a state-of-the-art stadium built for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, is considered one of Africa’s most technologically advanced football arenas. Designed with sweeping, spaceship-like curves and a roof that mimics an ocean wave, the stadium showcases elaborate architectural details including massive coliseum-style pillars and tricolour latticing reflecting the national flag. The project cost around £260 million ($330 million) and a large portion was funded by the Chinese government under its Belt and Road Initiative, with construction managed by the Beijing Construction Engineering Group.
Moi International Sports Centre, a facility which includes 60,000 seat stadium, 120-room hotel, and large swimming pool was built by the Chinese government as an assistance project in 1987 to enable Kenya host the All Africa Games. Another Chinese government grant of 12.8 million USD provided funds for the refurbishment of the complex from 2010-2012 by Shengli Engineering Construction.
Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex was built in 1986 with Chinese funds. The stadium was later renovated with Chinese assistance.
Malawi National Stadium was opened in 2017 and costs USD 70 million which is funded by Chinese concessional loan.
Stade du 26 Mars was built by a Chinese construction firm for 2002 Africa Cup of Nations
Nouakchott Olympic Stadium was built in 1985 by Chinese government and later also renovated with Chinese funds in 2017.
Stade Anjalay (1991) – The 15,000-seat multi-use stadium was financed by the Chinese government through a RMB 35 million interest-free loan, which also covered the construction of two bridges. The loan carried no interest and included a ten-year grace period followed by a ten-year repayment term. Côte d'Or National Sports Complex (2019) – The multi-sports complex at Saint Pierre was financed through a package of three RMB 50 million interest-free loans signed between 2012 and 2015, supplemented by a RMB 200 million Chinese government grant, for a total Chinese contribution of RMB 350 million. A formal exchange of notes was signed between the two governments on 8 November 2017. Construction was carried out by China State Construction Engineering and the complex was completed in time to host the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games.
Estádio do Zimpeto, the main venue for 2011 All-Africa Games, is built with US$ 70 million from Chinese government and can hold up to 42,000 spectators.
Both the building of the Stade Général Seyni Kountché and its renovation almost two decades later were funded by Chinese support. Initial construction was handled by the China National Corporation for Overseas Economic Cooperation and renovation construction was handled by the China Geo-Engineering Corporation.
Stade Amahoro (1988) - Construction of this aid project by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation started in 1984 and finished in 1988. During the Rwandan genocide the stadium was the safety point which Tutsis tried to escape to as it was secured by UN peacekeepers.
Leopold Senghor Stadium (1985) is a 60,000 seat stadium financed by the Chinese government.
Swimming pool (1992) - The Chinese government assisted in the construction of a swimming pool in 1992 and would later also help out in the renovation of the pool in 2011, in time for the training of Seychellois athletes for the forthcoming Indian Ocean Islands Games.
National Stadium and Bo Stadium (2014)
Mogadishu Stadium (1978) - The stadium seating a capacity of 35,000 was constructed by a Chinese construction firm. The structure has withstood the long conflict in Somalia, and serves as the staging base for the peacekeeping operations of AMISOM and earlier to that was a base for United Nations Operation in Somalia II, forming part of the backdrop of the events of Black Hawk Down.
A new 15,000 seater stadium in Juba built with Chinese funding has been approved by South Sudanese government.
Uhuru Stadium enlargement (1969); Amaan Stadium (1970); Tanzania National Main Stadium (2007) - Construction work to enlarge the Dar es Salaam stadium was completed in June 1969 based on Chinese aid. The Amaan Stadium was constructed with Chinese aid in 1970 and underwent refurbishment again with Chinese assistance, reopening in 2010.
Stade de Kégué is built in 2000 by funds from Chinese government.
Mandela National Stadium (1997) - The 40,000 seat stadium opened in 1997 as a donation by the Chinese government. Another grant by the Chinese government of 3 million in 2011 funded a facelift for the stadium.
Chinese firms are involved in building Levy Mwanawasa StadiumEmmanuel Barranguet: China the master stadium builder; The Africa Report, 2 July 2010; first published in: The Africa Report’s World Cup 2010, May 2010. and National Heroes Stadium together with the refurbishment of Independence Stadium.
Chinese government funded both the building of National Sports Stadium in 1987 and its refurbishment in 2006.
Americas
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (2007) - Funded by a Chinese government grant, the 60 million USD cricket stadium is a 20,000 seat complex built in time for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
National Stadium of The Bahamas at Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre (2012) - The 35 million USD stadium was chosen by the government of the Bahamas from among several choices for a substantial gift from China.
Garfield Sobers Gymnasium (1992) – A 6,000-seat indoor sports facility with a swimming pool and amenities for twelve sports, constructed between 1990 and 1992 by China State Construction Engineering under a grant of 16 million Barbados dollars from the Chinese government. National Stadium (under construction, 2025–2028) – A new national stadium being built at Waterford, St. Michael, at a total cost of 80 million Barbados dollars through a grant from the People’s Republic of China. The project, undertaken by Beijing Construction Engineering Group, follows the demolition of the old 1970 stadium and will feature a 10,000-seat Phase I with plans to expand to 20,000 seats in Phase II.
National Stadium, built following a breakaway from diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favor of China by the Costa Rican government in 2007, China spent an estimated 100 million USD to construct the stadium from 2008 to 2011. Local newspaper, the Tico Times called the stadium "Costa Rica’s jewel" and the design "an aerodynamic masterpiece".
Windsor Park (2007) - In exchange for severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2004, the government of China donated the 12,000 seat stadium, constructed and designed at a cost of 45 million East Caribbean dollars by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Wuhan Architectural and Design Institute along with several Dominican engineers sent to China to join the design team. A local paper covering the opening night described "scenes of raw excitement and drama not seen in Dominica since November 3, 1978 when the island attained political independence from Great Britain...Roseau erupted in a wild frenzy for a moment in time that probably won’t be repeated again in the lifetimes of the thousands gathered to witness it."