The first international soccer stadium in the West Bank was inaugurated yesterday, with French international star Lilian Thuram making the first kick.

The French- and German-funded stadium in al-Birah, a suburb of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, has 9,000 seats and cost more than 1.1 million euros, said a statement.

Ex-Barcelona and Juventus defender Thuram - who was on the French national team when it won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 - participated in the inauguration on his first ever visit to the West Bank.

He kicked off a Palestinian First Division Championship match, between the local clubs of al-Birah and Wadi Elnees.

The stadium grass was installed last year with financial support of world soccer body FIFA.