Most people would be easily convinced that the bigger the stadium, the greater it is. It’s quite true for an aspect or two but does the size of a football stadium mean everything?
For me, a stadium should be more than that, it is a home for players and a sanctum for fans, a witness for hope and dream, for rivalry and sportsmanship, for the glorious triumph and the bitter loss. we summarized the top 10 most famous football stadiums in the world. Scroll down and see.
Most Famous Football Stadiums
10. Old Trafford (Manchester – England)
Owner: Manchester United
Capacity: 76.000 (future expansion would increase up to 88.000)
First opened: 1910 – 110 years ago
Major sporting events:
- 1966 FIFA World Cup
- 1995 Rugby League World Cup
- 1996 UEFA Euro
- 2003 UEFA Champions League Final
- 2012 Olympic Football
- 2021 Rugby League World Cup
- 2021 UEFA Women’s Euro
You might probably hear the name “Theatre of Dreams” at some points in your life. The well-known stadium is not referred to that name for no reason. This stadium belongs to one of the most successful football clubs on the planet. With a history of 110 years, the Old Trafford hosted a list of major sporting events including 1966 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996 and 2003 UEFA Champions League Final.
The home of Red Devils until now is the only FIFA 5 stars ranking stadium in England. Old Trafford has a mix of the old tradition with a modern touch in football seamlessly. The moment when players pass through the famous ‘Red Tunnel’ before they enter the ground might be the most iconic moment for this stadium.
9. San Siro (Milan – Italy)
Owner:
- C. Milan (1926–1935)
- Municipality of Milan (1935–present)
Capacity: 80.018 (largest stadium in Italy)
First opened: 1926
Major sporting events:
- 1934 FIFA World Cup
- 1960 Boxing match for Junior Welterweight title
- 1965 and 1970 European Cup finals
- 1980 UEFA Euro
- 1991, 1994, 1997 Europa League finals
- 2009 Rugby Union match Italy vs. New Zealand
- 2001 and 2016 UEFA Champions League finals
This stadium was also known by the name Giuseppe Meazza (named after one of the most famous footballers of Italy), it is currently home of two of the best clubs as well as rivals AC Milan and Internazionale (Inter Milan).
With some of the world’s best footballers having played there and staged the finals of the European Cup, Europa League, Champions League, San Siro is one of the most revered and admired stadiums in the world.
8. Anfield (Liverpool, England)
Owner: Fenway Sports Group. Operated by Liverpool FC
Capacity: 54.074
First opened: 1884 – 136 years ago
Major sporting events:
- 1929 FA Cup semi-finals
- 1989, 1991, 1997, 2016 Rugby League
- 1996 UEFA Euro
- 2019 Women Super League
Currently the home of Liverpool FC, latest champions of England and one of the most successful clubs in the world.
Any footballer would have dreamed of playing here in their career, to submerge themselves in the red sea of supporters, players and the stadium, the chorus of “You never walk alone” and the famous “This is Anfield” hanging in the tunnel.
It’s fair to say the atmosphere is the key factor that makes Anfield one of the greatest stadiums in the world.
7. Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid, Spain)
Owner: Real Madrid CF
Capacity: 81.044
First opened: 1947
Major sporting events:
- 1957, 1969, 1980 European Cup finals
- 1964 EURO
- 1982 FIFA World Cup
- 2010 UEFA Champions League final
- 2018 Copa Libertadores Final
The stadium was originally named the Nuevo Estadio Chamartín (Means New Chamartin Stadium). It was renamed 8 years later. This is home of Real Madrid FC, one of the world’s most famous clubs, the archrival of FC Barcelona. Real Madrid has a historic record of 13 European Championships with three continuous victories, an achievement that has never been accomplished before.
The stadium matches the club tradition by becoming the most famous place in Madrid with over a million visitors per year. The stadium has been renovated twice in 1982 and 2001 to fit the Galacticos’ expectations.
Through its long history, the stadium has been home to many of the world’s greatest legend players, including Ferenc Puskas, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Delima and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2013, the world’s most valuable player at that time Gareth Bale also came to this home to fulfil the dream of Madrid football giant.
6. Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany)
Owner: Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH
Capacity: 75.024
First opened: 2005
Major sporting events:
- 2006 FIFA World Cup
- 2012 UEFA Champions League Final
- 2020 UEFA Euro
- 2023 UEFA Champions League Final
- 2024 UEFA Euro
Despite the fact that it’s not an old stadium by any means, the design of Allianz Arena is still way ahead of its time. Even some new-built stadiums would be no match with its beauty.
It is the only stadium in Europe that can change its colours to reflect which of the two teams are playing – red for Bayern and blue for 1860 Munich (until 2017 when 1860 Munich sold their shares of the stadium completely to Bayern Munich)
This new stadium had a privilege to host six 2006 FIFA World Cup ties, 2012 Champions League Final, many European fixtures and many future big events are on schedule.
5. Olympiastadion (Munich – Germany)
Owner: Free State of Bavaria
Capacity: 57.660
First opened: 1972
Major sporting events:
- 1972 Summer Olympics
- 1974 FIFA World Cup
- 1975 and 1976 European Super Cup
- 1976 Intercontinental Cup
- 1979, 1993 and 1997 European Cup Final
- 1988 European Championship
- 1989 World Speedway Final
- 1996 UEFA Cup Final
- 2002 European Athletics Championships
- 2012 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final
The stadium had the honor of hosting matches in the finals of the 1974 World Cup, including the final between the home nation West Germany and Netherlands.
This stadium was the home of both Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich afterwards until the two clubs moved to their own Allianz Arena stadium in 2005.
This stadium also had the privilege to host the finals of the 1979, 1993 and 1997 European Cup finals, as well as the final of the 1988 European Championship between the Soviet Union and Netherlands.
4. Estadio Do Maracana (Rio de Janeiro – Brazil)
Owner: Rio de Janeiro State Government
Capacity: 78.838
First opened: 1950
Major sporting events:
- 1950 FIFA World Cup (Group stage, have no final match)
- 1989 Copa América
- 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
- 2014 FIFA World Cup
- 2016 Summer Olympics
- 2019 Copa América
The stadium was opened to host the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and witnessed its home team’s bitter loss against Uruguay and lost the champion crown. That became one of the most shocking events of Brazilian history.
On that bitter day, the match between the 2 teams set the record of the largest ever attendance in the history of football games, 199.854 (the actual number could be 210.000).
3. Camp Nou (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)
Owner: FC Barcelona
Capacity: 99.354
First opened: 1957
Major sporting events:
- 1958, 1960, 1962, 1966 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup finals
- 1963, 1970, 2010, 2015 Copa del Rey finals
- 1972 and 1982 European Cup Winners’ Cup finals
- 1964 European Nations’ Cup
- 1983 and 1986 Copa de la Liga finals
- 21 Supercopa de España finals
- 1979, 1982, 1989, 1992, 1997 UEFA Super Cup games
- 1982 FIFA World Cup
- 1989 European Cup final
- 1992 Summer Olympics.
- 1999 UEFA Champions League final
Camp Nou (means New Field) also referred to in English as The Nou Camp. It is the largest stadium in Spain as well as Europe and ranked 11th in the list of the largest stadiums in the world by capacity.
This place hosted so many important sporting events like 02 European Cup/Champions League finals in 1989 and 1999, 02 European Cup Winners’ Cup finals, 04 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup finals, 05 UEFA Super Cup games, 04 Copa del Rey finals, 02 Copa de la Liga finals, and 21 Supercopa de España finals.
It has hosted five games at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, including the opening match, two out of four matches at the 1964 European Nations Cup, and the 1992 Summer Olympics Football Final – which Spain has won only Olympics gold.
You’re not going to meet someone in the world who considers himself a football lover who doesn’t recognise Barcelona and Camp Nou, the birthplace of Tiki Taka, home of the GOAT (Greatest Of All Times) Lionel Messi.
2. Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, Mexico)
Owner: Grupo Televisa
Capacity: 87.523
First opened: 1966
Major sporting events:
- 1968 Summer Olympics
- 1970 FIFA World Cup final
- 1971 Women’s World Cup
- 1975 Pan American Games
- 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
- 1985 Mexico City Cup / Azteca 2000
- 1986 FIFA World Cup final
- 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
- 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup
- 2026 FIFA World Cup (scheduled)
The Azteca stadium is the largest stadium in Mexico. This is the first of only 2 stadiums to have had the honor of hosting 2 FIFA World Cup finals (along with Estadio Do Maracana): in 1970 World Cup final where Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 and 1986 World Cup final where Argentina defeated West Germany.
This ground also witnessed 2 crazy goals of Diego Maradona the same year in the 1986 quarter-final match: The “Hand of God Goal” and the “Goal of the Century” against England.
The Azteca is also the hosting place of the “Game of the Century” between Italy and West Germany, in which Italy won 4–3 after 5 of the 7 goals were scored in extra time.
1. Wembley Stadium (London, England)
Owner: The Football Association
Capacity: 90.000
First opened: 1923 – Rebuilt in 2007
Major sporting events:
- Annual FA Cup finals
- 1948 Summer Olympics
- 1966 FIFA World Cup
- 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1992 European Cup finals
- 1965 and 1993 European Cup Winners’ Cup finals
- 1995 and 2015 Rugby League World Cup
- 1996 UEFA Euro
- 2012 Summer Olympics final
- 2011, 2013 and the next 2024 UEFA Champions League finals
This is without question the most famous stadium on the planet. Not only for the football world but also for all other world-famous events like rugby, boxing, music concert, etc…
So many big games were held here, so many legendary footballers won and lost here, Elton John, Adele, Madonna, Eminem, Beyonce performed here. It is such a prestigious stadium that observed prestigious occasions.
It was the site for the 1948 Olympic Games as well as England’s victory over Germany in the final of the 1966 FIFA World Cup and got the honour of hosting more European Cup finals than any others (1963, 1968, 1971, 1978 and 1992).
Since it hosted so many of the notable events in European and international football, “The Home of Football” is the name that fits Wembley the most.
Exceptional players, talented managers, even fans might come and go, they would become history some days. However, the stadiums will always be a place filled with prestigious moments. It became not just a large field with concrete walls, grass yard and steel dome, it became a stand, a place to revere, to live the game and feel the electric atmosphere and waves of emotion.
Surely everyone wants to go to those places and immerse themselves in the bustling atmosphere. Fans can only admire that grandeur through the small screen. Don’t forget to watch the football live and update the fastest football news online at the online football website. Thus, the article has helped you to list the top 10 most famous football stadiums in the world for your reference. Hope this will be interesting information to help you learn about the sport of kings.
