Opatija Stadium Receives Use Permit and FIFA Certificate
NK Opatija players have already completed their first training sessions on the new pitch, with stadium licensing for the second tier of the Croatian Football League still pending.
NK Opatija players have already completed their first training sessions on the new pitch, with stadium licensing for the second tier of the Croatian Football League still pending.
The new football stadium in Opatija has received a final use permit, confirmed by Opatija Mayor Fernando Kirigin. At the same time, FIFA has issued a certificate confirming that the new pitch meets all international criteria, bringing two key procedures necessary for the stadium's use to a close.
Opatija's footballers have already begun training on the new pitch, which is particularly significant news for NK Opatija. The players are gradually moving to the new stadium and acclimating to the conditions in which they should soon play official matches.
"While work continues on the final details of the new Opatija football stadium, the players have started training. We have received the final use permit, and FIFA has issued a certificate confirming that the new pitch meets all international standards. All that remains is to initiate an extraordinary licensing procedure with the Croatian Football Federation for the stadium to host second-tier HNL matches, and finally, to mark the grand opening with a match," Kirigin told Fiuman.hr.
The next step is an extraordinary licensing procedure with the Croatian Football Federation so that NK Opatija can play league matches at the new stadium in the second tier of Croatian football. Kirigin added that the players are simultaneously returning to their home and adapting to the new conditions.
"While administrative details are being finalized, our players are slowly returning to their home, adapting to the new conditions, training, and soon to matches at the new Opatija gem," said the Opatija mayor.
As early as late July 2026, Kirigin stated that the technical inspection of the facility had been completed and that the use permit was expected daily. Now that the final use permit and FIFA certificate have been obtained, most of the work is done. The date of the match that will ceremoniously open the new stadium in Opatija still needs to be determined.
