The Donbass Arena situated in Donetsk, Ukraine is home to 2009 UEFA Cup winners, FC Shakthar Donetsk. Shakhtar owner, Rinat Akhmetov, funded €320m to build this ultra-modern stadium with state of the art facilities. The UEFA capacity stands at 50,000 spectators for the stadium.

Donbass Arena was designed by ArupSport, who also designed the City of Manchester Stadium (Manchester, England), Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany) and the Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China). The stadium seems like a flying saucer due to the soaring roof effect it has. To match the neigbouring landscape, the stadium slopes north to the south which also in turn helps natural light and air to make way to the arena. Excellent external lights illuminate the stadium at night.

The stadium is scheduled to host three Group D games at the Euro 2012. The matches played at this venue will include France, England and Ukrainian national sides. Apart from these 3 games, a quarter-final and a semi-final will also be played at the Donbass Arena.

The "Donbass Arena" project was in the pipeline way before Ukraine was named as co-host for Euro 2012. The Arena includes three restaurants, a lounge-bar, a fan cafe, fast-food outlets, retail outlets, a fitness center, corporate boxes and first-aid rooms. It has also hosted some big concerts and celebrations.

Province: Donetsk Oblast
Population: 1,100,700
Area: 358km²
Altitude: 225 m above sea level
June temperature: average highs of 23.1 C
Motto: Opportunity is proved with business

UEFA Capacity: 50,000
Tenants: FC Shakhtar Donetsk
Opened: August 2009

• Situated in central Donetsk, with a huge fountain built beside it, complete with a 30-tonne football, it has a picturesque adjoining parkland too.

• A Beyoncé concert was held to officially open the stadium on 29 August 2009. The first match came two months later when Jadson's early penalty set Shakhtar on course to a 4-0 win against FC Obolon Kyiv.