Khartoum International Stadium is a multi-purpose arena in Sudan's capital city with a seating capacity of 23,000 people. Primarily used for football — it serves as home ground for both the Sudanese national football team and club Al Ahli SC Khartoum — the stadium was renovated in 2010 ahead of the 2011 African Cup of Nations championships. But beyond the football pitch, the stadium periodically transforms into something far older: an arena for traditional Nubian wrestling, a living martial art with roots that stretch back thousands of years. Gates visited the stadium in Season 12 of Expedition Unknown to witness these weekly wrestling matches firsthand, using them as a cultural gateway into understanding the ancient Kushite civilization before heading deeper into the Sudanese desert.
Earliest Egyptian hieroglyphic references to Nubian people, depicting them as warriors and wrestlers — among the oldest visual records of the wrestling tradition
Flourishing of the Kushite civilization in the region between present-day Sudan and Egypt's southern border
Khartoum International Stadium renovated in preparation for the 2011 African Cup of Nations championships
Gates visits the stadium for Expedition Unknown S12E01 to observe traditional Nubian wrestling matches
Nubian wrestling — known locally as Nuba wrestling in some regions — is widely regarded by historians and anthropologists as one of the oldest continuously practiced combat sports in the world. Egyptian hieroglyphs dating back thousands of years depict people from the Nubian region as wrestlers and warriors, suggesting the tradition predates most recorded athletic competitions. The Kushite kingdom, which flourished in the territory now encompassing much of modern Sudan, was a formidable power that at one point ruled over Egypt itself, and its martial culture appears to have been central to its identity.
The weekly matches Gates witnessed at Khartoum Stadium represent a living continuation of that ancient tradition rather than a staged reconstruction. Participants are understood to follow ritual protocols that have been passed down through generations, and the matches carry social and communal significance well beyond sport. Gates' contact on the ground described the tradition as traceable directly to the ancient Nubian kingdom — a claim consistent with the historical and iconographic record, even if the precise evolution of the practice over millennia remains difficult to map in detail.
The Khartoum International Stadium itself is a modern structure, renovated as recently as 2010, but it becomes a vessel for something far older when these matches take place. The contrast between the contemporary football venue and the ancient ritual playing out within it is precisely what drew Gates' camera there — the stadium is not the subject, the unbroken human tradition happening inside it is.
Gates' episode does not present new archaeological findings about Nubian wrestling; rather, it uses the matches as a vivid, on-the-ground illustration of cultural continuity before the expedition pivots to archaeological investigation of Kushite sites further into the desert. The segment functions as ethnographic scene-setting, grounding the broader Kushite investigation in a living tradition that audiences can see and feel rather than simply read about.
Khartoum International Stadium has a capacity of 23,000 spectators and serves as the home ground of Sudan's national football team.
The stadium was renovated in 2010 to prepare for the 2011 African Cup of Nations championships.
Egyptian hieroglyphs thousands of years old depict the Nubian people of this region as both warriors and wrestlers — among the earliest visual records of any wrestling tradition.
The Kushite civilization, rooted in the region around modern Khartoum, was powerful enough to rule over Egypt at the height of its influence.
Khartoum International Stadium is generally accessible to visitors attending scheduled matches or events, though it is primarily a working sports venue. Travelers interested in traditional Nubian wrestling should research local event schedules in advance, as match days are typically weekly but may vary. Check current travel advisories for Sudan before planning any visit, as conditions can change.
Khartoum, Sudan — the stadium is located within the capital city itself.
The cooler months between November and February are generally considered the most comfortable time to visit Khartoum, when temperatures are more manageable than the intense heat of the Sudanese summer. Weekend match days at the stadium tend to draw the largest crowds.
Kingdom of Kush Pyramid Tombs
The Kingdom of Kush Pyramid Tombs are the next major stop in Gates' same S12E01 expedition, representing the archaeological heart of the Kushite civilization that the Khartoum Stadium wrestling segment introduces.
Tsavo, Kenya
Both Tsavo and the Khartoum investigation fall under Gates' broader African expeditions exploring the continent's ancient and colonial history, connecting through themes of warrior cultures and forgotten histories.
Ancient Egyptian tomb (Moses investigation)
The Ancient Egyptian tomb investigation shares the same broader Nile Valley civilizational context — the Kushites and ancient Egyptians were deeply intertwined rivals and neighbors whose histories overlap substantially.
Historical data sourced from Wikipedia