Construction of the National Football Stadium Will Not Be Completed Before the Start of EXPO 2027

Construction of the National Stadium in Surcin will not be completed before the start of the specialized World Expo EXPO 2027, as the planned completion date has been postponed to early 2028. One of the main reasons for the delay is the need to stabilize and secure the ground on which the stadium is being built, as well as the suspension of construction works for three months during EXPO, Forbes Serbia reported. As explained to Forbes Serbia at the construction site, around 2,300 piles have been installed for the foundation in order to ensure that the structure does not shift or sink due to the characteristics of the terrain.

Another reason why the completion deadline for the National Stadium has been moved to early 2028 is that construction of the facility will be suspended for three months, from mid-May to mid-August next year, during EXPO 2027. As specified, one of the reasons is the safety of EXPO visitors, since the section of the exhibition closest to the stadium will be the so-called Best Practices Zone and the corporate zone with temporary structures and a large canopy, through which visitors will pass.

Another challenge, as stated, is logistical, because access to the EXPO complex from the motorway, the Belgrade bypass and the New Belgrade–Surcin road largely runs alongside the National Stadium construction site, which is located between the exhibition halls and the main road intersection leading to the entire complex. In addition, the stadium is positioned between the EXPO halls and the railway station through which visitors will pass, so the movement of a large number of trucks and construction machinery would probably not be an attractive sight for those coming to the exhibition.

It is further noted that, during the Forbes Serbia team's visit to the stadium, construction of the steel structure on which the stadium roof will be installed was nearing completion, while installation of the elements that will form the stands was also underway. During the visit to the construction site, the Forbes Serbia team was told that the cost of the National Stadium would not exceed the previously announced figure of just over EUR 460 million.

It is recalled that construction of the National Stadium, which is planned to have a capacity of 52,000 seats, began on May 1, 2024. It was designed by the Spanish architectural studio Fenwick Iribarren, known for designing sports facilities, and the design features green terraces on three of the stadium's four levels. Over the years, both the planned capacity of the facility and the construction deadlines have changed – from December 2026 to March 2027 and now to early 2028.

They also note that the projected value of the entire investment has changed – from EUR 257 million in the initial study to the current EUR 468 million, and more than EUR 960 million including supporting infrastructure, according to an estimate by the Fiscal Council.

The main contractor is the Chinese company PowerChina.

As Forbes Serbia pointed out, what distinguishes this project from other major infrastructure projects implemented in cooperation with China is that no Chinese loan was taken: the development of the National Stadium is being financed from budget funds, bond issuance and loans from commercial banks.

Expo 2027 doo Beograd

Surcin National Stadium

EXPO 2027

PowerChina

construction of the National Stadium