Stade 5 Juillet 1962
Stadium Snapshot
- Address El Mohammadia, Algiers
- Capacity 64,200
- Surface AirFibr hybrid grass
- Opened 17 June 1972
- Renovated 1999, 2003, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2022
- Record attendance 110,000 (Algeria 0-3 Serbia, 3 March 2010)
- Owner Ministry of Youth and Sports (Algeria)
- Named for 5 July 1962 — Algerian independence from France
Algiers, Algeria
Route de Mahelma, El Mohammadia, Algiers
Find Your Best View
Curve Nord (Ultras section)
USM Alger Ultras Ouled El Bahdja section on Algiers Derby and CAF days. Behind the north goal. Loudest section on USMA and Desert Foxes match-days.
Tribune Officielle (Main Stand, covered)
TV-camera side, covered, premium seating. Includes presidential box and VIP. Midpoint of the pitch.
Tribune Latérale (Side stands)
Side stands on either side of the pitch. Family-friendly, mixed crowd. Partially covered in upper tier.
Curve Sud (Visiting / Family)
Segregation zone for visiting supporters in derby and CAF fixtures. Family blocks for Desert Foxes internationals.
How to get there
By car
15-30 min from central Algiers
By car
15-30 min from central Algiers
Typical Fare
Indicative pricing
Stade 5 Juillet 1962 sits in the El Mohammadia district on the west side of Algiers, off the autoroute toward Cheraga. From central Algiers (Place des Martyrs / Algiers waterfront) the drive runs 20-30 minutes via the Boulevard Krim Belkacem and the autoroute. From the Algiers wilaya suburbs to the south (Birkhadem, Hydra) the drive runs 15-25 minutes via the inner ring road.
- On-site parking for approximately 5,000 cars across multiple zoned lots
- Arrive at least 2 hours before kickoff for Algeria internationals — access roads close to non-ticketed traffic 90 minutes pre-match
- Match-day traffic can extend the drive by 30-45 minutes on Algiers Derby and Desert Foxes match-days
- Yassir (Algerian ride-hail) is the preferred local app; Uber is not available in Algeria
By taxi / ride-hail
Yassir or licensed taxis from anywhere in Algiers
By taxi / ride-hail
Yassir or licensed taxis from anywhere in Algiers
Typical Fare
Indicative pricing
Yassir is the dominant ride-hail app in Algeria. Licensed yellow taxis run on metered fares; airport-licensed taxis run flat-fare structures. Drop-off is at the designated west forecourt; post-match pickups can take 30-45 minutes to clear after Desert Foxes fixtures.
- Cash and card both accepted in Yassir; many drivers prefer cash
- Match-day surge on Yassir can hit 1.8x for Algiers Derby and Desert Foxes matches
- Pre-book a return for post-match if you have an early next morning
By Metro / bus
Algiers Metro to Haï El Badr or El Harrach, ETUSA bus from there
By Metro / bus
Algiers Metro to Haï El Badr or El Harrach, ETUSA bus from there
Typical Fare
Indicative pricing
Algiers Metro does not stop at the stadium directly. Take the Metro Line 1 to Haï El Badr or El Harrach, then ETUSA bus westward to the stadium forecourt. On major Desert Foxes match-days the Ministry of Transport runs dedicated shuttle buses from central Algiers and from Bab El Oued.
- ETUSA bus from El Harrach to the stadium: DZD 30
- Dedicated Desert Foxes shuttles from Place des Martyrs run from 3 hours pre-kickoff
- Algiers Metro card (Smart Pass) covers Metro + ETUSA bus transfers
From the airport
20 km · 30-50 minutes via the airport autoroute
From the airport
20 km · 30-50 minutes via the airport autoroute
Houari Boumediene Airport is 20 km east of the stadium. The drive runs 30 minutes off-peak via the airport autoroute and 50-60 minutes during rush hour. Yassir runs heavy airport-to-stadium coverage on match-days; the airport is also a Metro Line 1 terminus, with bus transfer to the stadium from Haï El Badr.
- Pre-book a hotel transfer for match-day morning arrivals
- Airport → stadium: Yassir DZD 1,500-2,500 · metered taxi DZD 2,000-3,000 · Metro + bus DZD 100-200
Where to buy tickets
FAF Ticket Office (Desert Foxes) · USM Alger box office
Algeria internationals are sold through the Fédération Algérienne de Football (FAF) ticket office and authorised distributors. USM Alger Ligue 1 fixtures are sold through the club's box office and the official Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 platform. CAF Champions League fixtures use the same channels with CAF-mandated supplementary controls.
Check current fixturesWhitelisted secondary market
When the official portal sells out, these are the only resellers we recommend.
Match-Day Timeline
Stadium gates open
Early arrival mandatory for Algiers Derby and Desert Foxes matches. Access roads close to non-ticketed traffic from −90 minutes.
Kickoff −3hWarm-up begins
Concessions open; full food service from −1.5h. Halal options standard.
−2hTeam arrival
Tunnel view from the Tribune Officielle forecourt
−60 minPre-match show
National anthem rehearsal, Ouled El Bahdja or Verde Leone tifo unveiling
−30 minMatch begins
KickoffHalf-time concessions
Queues peak at 45-50 min; expect 10-minute waits at main concourses
HTStaggered exit
Home blocks released first, away fans held 30-45 min for safety
FT +30 minSafety & fan tips
Stade 5 Juillet 1962 operates under the Algerian Ministry of Youth and Sports safety framework, which was updated after the 2022 renovation cycle to align with CAF stadium-safety standards. Each gate is equipped with turnstile counters and capacity cut-offs, medical bays sit at each of the four main entry zones, and the stewarding model uses a mix of state Gendarmerie, municipal police and stadium-employed stewards. Algerian match-day safety culture is shaped by the 2007 stadium-violence reforms following multiple Algiers Derby incidents, which produced phased entry, mandatory ticket holograms and CCTV crowd monitoring. The Gendarmerie and Police nationale operate in visible numbers on Algiers Derby and Desert Foxes match-days.
- Body and bag search at every gate. Zone capacity is enforced by turnstile count — if your gate is paused, walk to an alternative gate in the same zone.
- Keep cash split across two pockets. Pickpockets work the queue at the south gates and near the metro/bus arrivals.
- Do not wear away colours in the Curve Nord. Algiers Derby segregation is strict and enforced by the Gendarmerie.
- Medical bays at each of the four main entry zones. Algerian Red Crescent on-site for Desert Foxes fixtures.
- Follow steward directions at full time. Staggered exits are mandatory and not negotiable.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible viewing platforms on the main stand side; capacity limited — request access via FAF or USM Alger ticket office 7 days in advance
- Lift access to upper tiers of the Tribune Officielle
- Accessible parking near the Tribune Officielle west forecourt — reserved on request
- Accessible washrooms in the Tribune Officielle concourses
Where to stay and eat nearby
Hotels — within 30 min drive
Historic five-star above central Algiers with views over the bay. Visiting national teams have used El Aurassi for pre-match stays.
Book directFive-star Sofitel adjacent to the Jardin d'Essai. Standard upmarket choice for match-day visitors without a car.
Book on AccorFour-star near Houari Boumediene Airport. Good one-night pick for match-day arrivals.
Pre-match cafés
Historic Algiers café in the Casbah's lower edge. Classic pre-match stop for older USMA and MCA supporters.
Algiers institution on Boulevard Mohamed Khemisti. Classic Algerian café culture.
Post-match food
Seafood institution on the Mediterranean coast west of Algiers. Late kitchen on Desert Foxes match-nights.
Traditional Algerian cuisine in upscale Hydra district. Couscous, tajine, mechoui.
Historical Significance
Stade 5 Juillet 1962 was commissioned by the post-independence Algerian state in the late 1960s as the country's flagship national stadium. Construction began in 1970; the venue opened on 17 June 1972 with an inauguration by President Houari Boumediene. The stadium is named for the 5 July 1962 date of Algerian independence from France. The original 1972 capacity was approximately 80,000; subsequent renovations have reduced the seated capacity to the current 64,200 figure. The venue was inaugurated to host the 1975 Mediterranean Games (the games were held in Algiers from 23 August to 6 September 1975), the 1978 All-Africa Games and the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations. The 1990 AFCON final between Algeria and Nigeria on 16 March 1990 was played here in front of an officially recorded 105,302 supporters — the largest crowd ever for a continental final at the time, won 1-0 by Algeria. The stadium hosted the 2000 African Championships in Athletics, the 2004 Pan Arab Games, the 2007 All-Africa Games and the 2022 Mediterranean Games as a primary venue. The all-time attendance record is the 110,000-supporter friendly between Algeria and Serbia on 3 March 2010 — an unusual capacity test that mixed seated and standing access in a way no longer permitted under modern CAF stadium standards. The AirFibr hybrid-grass surface was installed in March 2015 to address pitch-quality issues during dual-tenant use; renovations also took place in 1999, 2003, 2008, 2017 and 2022.
Built
1972
Renovated
2022
Surface
AirFibr hybrid grass (installed March 2015)
Record
110,000
Notable matches
1990 AFCON final. Cherif Oudjani goal in the 38th minute. Algeria's first ever continental title; Rabah Madjer named Best Player of the Tournament. Officially recorded 105,302 attendance.
Pre-World Cup 2010 friendly. All-time attendance record: 110,000 supporters.
Stadium's first major international event. Algeria hosted the Mediterranean Games from 23 August to 6 September 1975.
2022 World Cup qualifier — part of the post-AFCON 2019 unbeaten run that reached 35 matches. Eventually broken by Cameroon in the WC 2022 playoff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capacity of Stade 5 Juillet 1962?
Where is Stade 5 Juillet 1962?
Why is it called Stade 5 Juillet 1962?
Who plays at Stade 5 Juillet 1962?
When was Stade 5 Juillet 1962 built?
Has the 1990 AFCON final been played here?
What is the surface at Stade 5 Juillet 1962?
How much are Stade 5 Juillet 1962 tickets?
Did MC Alger play here?
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Last updated 2026-05-11 · written by Amara Okafor. · AI-drafted, editor-reviewed