The most football stadium in the world. The largest stadium in the world

Sport is an integral part of every person's life, so many of us have been to a football or hockey match at least once. However, watching a game in a regular sports arena is unlikely to have the same global impact as visiting the world's largest stadium, where you can be charged with the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators.

TOP 10: the best football stadiums in the world

If you consider yourself a football fan, you simply must know about the most gigantic and grandiose stadiums in the world, a visit to which you will remember almost for the rest of your life.

Wembley

Wembley Stadium received its first spectators in 2007 and was built on the site of the old football arena, where matches were held back in 1923.

This is one of the largest sports venues in the world, accommodating approximately 90 thousand fans.

"Highlight" stadium - a majestic openwork arch that extends simultaneously in three directions and serves as a support for the roof. Convenient steps lead to the seats in the stands, and for those who are tired or people with disabilities disabilities Escalators are provided.

The owner of the stadium is the English Football Association, so the Great Britain national football team holds its training sessions and home matches here. The arena is also suitable for rugby and American football competitions. Perimeter stadium exceeds 1 km. Pop and show business stars also often perform there.

Camp Nou

It is located in the capital of the province of Catalonia, Barcelona, that is, in Spain. The author of the stadium project was the architect Francis Mithansa, and it was built in 1957. Since then, the sole owner of the Camp Nou has been the Barcelona football club.

This the largest arena in Europe, capable of accommodating up to 100 thousand football fans. In addition to the playing area itself, there is a management office and a center for employees with an official connection to Barcelona. Be sure to visit the museum of the legendary team, where their winning trophies, goal records and photographs of matches are kept, as well as the belongings of the legendary Barça players. Matches are held here Olympic Games and Eurocup football.

Santiago Bernabeu

This arena is home to Madrid Real Madrid and is accordingly located in the Spanish capital. Also, the Spanish football team trains here before the world football championships. The football ground is named after former president football club, where the team won the Eurocup 6 times.

The stadium's capacity is impressive, amounting to more than 80 thousand spectators. The arena is located 4.5 km from the center of Madrid, and the best way to get there is by metro or taxi.

The peculiarity of its design is that from any place in the stands there is an excellent view of the football field.

Old Trafford

This is the home arena of the famous team Manchester United. The stadium is located in the province of Greater Manchester in the metropolitan area of Trafford, and is considered the second largest English stadium after Wembley.

The sports ground is located near the metro station and is designed for 75 thousand spectators.

At Old Trafford you can buy tickets for four stands: North, South, West or East. The northern one is named after Sir Alex Ferguson, the man who helped lead Manchester United to the heights of glory. All stands, with the exception of the South stand, are divided into 2 tiers. The North Stand also houses the famous Red Cafe and the club's museum.

Enfield

The sports arena belongs to the English team "Liverpool". It can simultaneously accommodate about 50 thousand spectators. The beginning of its construction dates back to 1884.

Getting to the stadium is not so easy: entry is carried out using special smart cards through 80 turnstiles. The football field is surrounded by four stands: the single-tier Main Stand and Spion Kop and the two-tier Anfield Road and Centenary Stand.

Maracana

It is the largest football sports ground in Brazil, built in Rio de Janeiro in 1950. The size of the field is 105x68 m, and the number of visitors to the stadium can reach 78 thousand people.

"Maracana" is considered the home arena of the teams "Fluminense" And "Flamingo", the Brazilian national team also trains here. The country's other football flagships, Vasco da Gama and Botafogo, also meet their opponents on this site. The stadium usually hosts the Carioca League finals.

Luzhniki

The first match took place here in 1956. After reconstruction in 2013, the stadium's capacity increased to 81 thousand people. The sports ground is located in the Khamovniki district of Moscow, near the Vorobyovy Gory.

The football field here has fifth-generation artificial turf. The arena has four connected stands, each of which has a colorful scoreboard. Tribune A is considered the main one, since this is where the VIP sections and VIP boxes for famous guests are located. Stand B usually accommodates fans, while Stand D accommodates guests of honor at matches.

Recently added to the stadium sports grounds, where professional football and futsal teams, as well as tennis players and track and field athletes, can train.

Allianz Arena

At this sports ground, located in the Frettmaning Heath, the most beautiful external façade in the world. The stadium is considered a true masterpiece of sports architecture. When Bayern Munich enters the field, the entire building lights up red, and during matches of the German national team, the color of the facade changes to white.

The stadium's capacity is 70-75 thousand people. The arena consists of 106 lodges, there is also a store selling LEGO construction sets, two kindergartens for children and a club store for the Bayern team, which occupies more than 800 m², where you can buy football symbols.

San Siro

It is located in Italy, namely in one of the most famous cities in the country - Milan. The stadium can accommodate over 80 thousand people at the same time and is the “home” of two football clubs included in the TOP European football: Milan and Inter.

Field dimensions are 105x68 m. The arena is located in urban zone 7, and after the match, fans can look into the museum of the history of football teams, where pennants, boots, flags and other trophies related to matches and outstanding football players are located.

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Donbass Arena

This is one of the newest arenas for football matches, built in Donetsk in 2009 and became the home field for the local team Shakhtar. Distinctive feature– full glazing of the facade, and in dark time day, it makes a surreal impression thanks to its original lighting.

The stadium seats just over 50 thousand people, there are VIP boxes and boxes for corporate customers. Trees are planted around it, turning into traditional red and red colors in the fall. orange colors in honor of the “home” team of the Donbass Arena. There are two large monitors installed on the sports ground.

In which city is the largest sports complex located?

Once you visit them, you will truly feel part football community: these arenas create a majestic impression and provide a good view of all the features of a football game.

The largest stadium in the world in terms of capacity is May Day Stadium, located in the DPRK. The complex operates on the sandy island of Nungnado in Pyongyang. The stands are equipped with 150,000 thousand seats; you won’t have to stand to watch the match; there will be enough seats for everyone.

The largest arenas in America - photos

Some of the largest stadiums in the world are located on the territory of the American continents, including:

"Azteca" which is located in the capital. Its capacity is 105 thousand people. It is famous for being the only sports arena to host two World Cup finals;
Memorial Stadium, located in the town of Lincoln in Nebraska, USA. It accommodates more than 87 thousand people;

It is at Memorial Stadium that the University of Nebraska American football team plays matches.

"Jordan-Hare". It was built in 1939 and can accommodate about 87,500 people. It is most often used in matches of the local American football team, the Auburn Tigers;
"Ben Hill Griffin". The sports ground can accommodate more than 85 thousand people and is located in the town of Gainesville in Florida;
"Cotton Bowl". This is the real pride of Texans. The stadium was built in the city of Dallas and can simultaneously accommodate more than 92 thousand fans. The sports ground was built in 1930.

Sports grounds in Europe

The following large stadiums are located on the European continent:

The largest fields in Russia

In our country, the most impressive stadiums in terms of territory and capacity are the following:

Huge abandoned building

In 2002, the Detroit Lions left their home stadium "Silverdome", located in the American town of Pontiac, due to the inability to maintain it. The financial crisis meant that the city municipality also could not keep the arena on its balance sheet.

The abandoned stadium changed hands several times, and now a decision has been made to sell it piece by piece. The stadium accommodated more than 80 thousand people, and its construction cost almost $55 million.

Spacious hockey complex

The most impressive hockey stadium in size is located in Japan in the city of Saitama and is called "Saitama Super".

It can fit up to 22500 spectators. Although the Japanese national team does not train here often, the arena often hosts concerts and other entertainment events.

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What else are the buildings famous for?

Some sports arenas, due to their unique features, leave an unforgettable impression even for a person who is not very fond of football or similar games.

Sometimes stadiums become places for the most unusual architectural fantasies to come true. The most amazing and beautiful sports grounds in the world:

"Amazonia" in Manaus, Brazil, accommodating over 40 thousand people, the design of which was based on the shape of an anaconda. The roof and façade of the arena are somewhat reminiscent appearance the skins of these snakes.
Arena das Dunas in Brazil, whose design resembles giant flower, the petals of which are the stands.
"Velodrome" in Marseille (capacity more than 60 thousand spectators). It became famous thanks to its original wave-shaped roof.
"Incheon Munhak" in Incheon, South Korea, with a capacity of more than 50 thousand fans. It attracts attention unusual roof made of fiberglass, reminiscent of ship masts and sails.
"Marina Bay" in Singapore (designed for 30 thousand spectators). He looks amazing.

The football field is located on a floating steel platform near the shore, and the stands for fans are located on the shore.

What stadium in the world the most expensive? This is the already mentioned Wembley in the UK. Its reconstruction in 2007 cost the English treasury almost $1.5 billion.

Most visited stadium. Most spectators traditionally come to matches at the famous Camp Nou in Barcelona. At each game, on average, up to 79 thousand seats in the stands are filled, which is about 80% of the arena's capacity.

Watch a video about the largest stadiums in the world by capacity:

Football stadiums have long ceased to be just places where matches in this sport are held. These architectural colossi came to represent the countries where they were built. As the popularity of the game of football grows, so do the stadiums themselves. Modern football stadiums in the world amaze with their capacity, and it is this indicator that is used as the basis for this rating.

1. May 1st Stadium, Pyongyang, DPRK (150,000)

Who would have thought that the most capacious stadium in the world would be in the DPRK, which the world has not noticed much success in football? They named it in honor of the May Day holiday, which was popular in the past and among us. Unofficially, the stadium is also called after the place where it is located - Rungnado.
Although this huge stadium can accommodate 150 thousand football fans in its stands, it is unlikely that there will be that many in Pyongyang, so football is not the main event in this arena. It is more intended for holding pompous national holidays, which, for their impeccable theatricality and mass appeal, were included in the Guinness Book of Records. Externally, the stadium looks very beautiful, resembling the national Korean flower - magnolia. Its arches, arranged in a circle, look like 16 petals. This colossal structure has 80 entrances. The height of the arena is approximately 60 meters, and the area of the sports complex is 2,000,000 square meters. m. The stadium was opened on May 1, 1989.

2. Salt Lake, India (120,000)

In the suburbs of Kolkata is the world's second largest stadium, the Salt Lake Stadium or the Indian Youth Stadium. Its area is about 309,000 square meters. m, and it was built as a multi-sports facility. It has a peculiar elliptical shape. Its arena mainly hosts football matches and athletics competitions. A powerful roof made of concrete and aluminum was built over the third tier of the stands. The stadium was opened in 1984.

3. Azteca, Mexico (105,000)

The top three largest football stadiums in the world are closed by the Mexican Azteca, built in its capital. This legendary stadium hosted two World Cup finals. In the 1986 quarter-finals, Diego Maradona scored a goal here with his hand against the English, and the Argentines later became world champions. Azteca hosts not only football matches, but also other public events. In 1993, a Michael Jackson concert was held here, and 6 years later, Mexicans welcomed Pontiff John Paul II to the stadium. The stadium was built in 1966.

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4. Bukit Jalil, Malaysia (100,200)

This stadium was built in Malaysia in 1998 to host the British Commonwealth Games. It has become the largest sports facility in Malaysia and one of the largest on the planet. Since then, football matches for the national cup and super cup have been held here.

5. Azadi, Iran (100,000)

Between 1971 and 1984, the largest football arena in the world was this stadium in Tehran. And if we compare the area of sports facilities, it is still far ahead of other sports complexes, occupying 3 million square meters territories.

6. Camp Nou, Spain (99,354)

Europe's largest football stadium, which was once even larger, is again looking to increase its seating capacity. By order of the Barcelona club, the Japanese prepared a project for the reconstruction of the legendary stadium, as a result of which the number of spectator seats there would once again exceed 100 thousand. Camp Nou is a real football stadium designed for the main team of the capital of Catalonia to play.
It is the second largest stadium in the world after the Azteca and is a true football stadium. Although concerts of world superstars are also held here. It was built in 1957 after, due to the increased popularity of Barcelona, there were not enough seats at the old Les Corts stadium. Although for many years its official name was the FC Barcelona stadium, city residents and the press so persistently called it “Camp Nou” (“New Field”) that in 2001 the popular name was officially approved. During one of the reconstructions, the capacity of the Camp Nou reached 120 thousand spectators. This stadium has hosted many important football matches and finals.

7. Soccer City, South Africa (94,700)

The largest football arena in Africa was the Soccer City stadium, built in Johannesburg. Its construction took place from 1986 to 1989. Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held in South Africa, the stadium underwent significant modernization. Locals They call it “Calabash” because in appearance it resembles this plant.

8. Rose Bowl, USA (94,000)

In the Californian city of Pasadena, another large stadium, the Rose Bowl, was built, which is quite a bit smaller than the current Camp Nou. At the same time, it is one of the oldest stadiums in the United States, which began operating in the 1920s. From a bird's eye view, the stadium looks like a giant pink bowl, which is reflected in its name. Over the almost century-long existence of the stadium, some matches of the World Cup football championship and other football and non-football competitions have been held there. It also hosted competitions at the Olympic Games in the 1930s and 1980s.

9. New Wembley, UK (90,000)

This is the youngest of the ten largest football stadiums in the world. The New Wembley was opened only in 2007 in London, replacing the legendary Wembley Stadium that stood on the same site. But during its very short history, this stadium managed to host the 2012 Olympic football final. The stadium is bowl-shaped and features a high-tech retractable roof, above which, 133 meters above the concourse level, an elegant arc of an arch can be seen supporting the roof structure.

10. Luzhniki, Russia (89,318)

The Moscow Luzhniki Stadium closes the top ten largest football arenas in the world. It was built on the wave of euphoria from the confident victory of the Soviet Olympic team at the 1952 games. In order to continue to increase the country's sports potential, it was decided to build the largest stadium in the USSR, corresponding to the existing ones at that time international standards. Surprisingly, such a colossus was built in an incredibly short time - it took only 450 days.
On July 31, 1956, the grand opening of the new sports arena took place. The stadium has undergone reconstruction several times. Initially the stands and field were under open air, but at the end of the 20th century, canopies were installed over the spectator seats. The next reconstruction was required at Luzhniki before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This reconstruction must be carried out taking into account the strictest UEFA requirements. The turf on the stadium field is already a fifth-generation surface.
The Luzhniki Stadium is the main Moscow arena, which can host not only football championships, but also other major sports competitions in many sports. In 1980, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games, and in 1999, a football match took place between the FIFA and Russia national teams. Naturally, this stadium earns money not only from sports - many public events and celebrity music concerts are held here.

The huge number of fans who come to the stadium to support their favorite team, or spectators rushing there to see their favorite band perform, creates a unique experience.

There are many wonderful stadiums in the world that can gather a huge number of people under their roof. These reconstructed or newly built stadiums attract thousands of people, and teams attending competitions or football matches are always provided with strong support from their fans.

The largest stadium in the world today was built in North Korea (DPRK) - its capital Pyongyang. This stadium is called the May Day Stadium. It was built in 1989 to host the XIII Festival of Youth and Students, and the stadium can accommodate 150 thousand spectators. In its shape it is similar to a magnolia flower. This is possible thanks to the unique architecture - the stadium structure consists of six arches arranged in a circle.

May Day Stadium

This largest stadium in the world is used for football matches of the national team and for hosting the world's most grandiose show, which is included in the Guinness Book of Records - the Arirang Festival. A special feature of this musical and gymnastics show is the “live screen” located on one of the stands.

Arirang Festival

On the screen, festival participants create images using thousands of multi-colored signs, which they hold in their hands and change simultaneously on command. Performances are held on the theme of glorifying the state idea of Juche, a prosperous and strong power.

The largest stadium in the world accommodates not only a huge number of spectators - approximately one hundred thousand people are involved in the performances held there, and laureates of various Korean and international competitions, schoolchildren and students participate in the festival. And many tourists go to the DPRK specifically to see Arirang.

After its official opening in 1950 and before reconstruction, the Maracana Stadium was considered the largest stadium in the world, which could accommodate 199,850 spectators at a time. That's exactly how many people came to the match between the stadium's owners and the Uruguay team.

Maracana Stadium

But after FIFA’s requirements for the mandatory numbering of seats and the reconstruction of the stadium, some spectators could watch matches only standing, the number of seats decreased to 89,838 (for the 2014 world championship, at the request of FIFA, the number of seats was reduced to 73,531), and the stadium lost its status as a large.

Russia also has large stadiums built or reconstructed according to modern rules and standards. However, among them, the largest stadium in Russia today is the Luzhniki Stadium, where the football teams Spartak and CSK train. Its construction began in 1955; this stadium was erected in the central part of the Luzhniki Olympic complex. In 1980, the Olympic Games competitions were held at the stadium, and from it the famous symbol, the Olympic Bear, rose into the sky.

Luzhniki Stadium

Both the complex and the stadium were originally named after V.I. Lenin, but after privatization, in 1992, the name of V.I. Lenin was removed from the name “Luzhniki Sports Complex”.

There is a tragic story connected with the Olimpiyskiy - in 1982. At the UEFA Cup match on October 20 between the Spartak and Haarley teams, some of the spectators decided to leave the stadium and encountered new fans entering on the icy steps. As a result, 66 people died.

The largest stadium in Russia seats 89,318 people, after privatization in 1997, a curtain was built over the stands, which changed the microclimate for the worse, making it more stuffy. As a result, the stadium's grass began to grow poorly, and after receiving the appropriate permission from UEFA, artificial turf was laid at the stadium.

Since 2013, Olimpiysky has been closed for reconstruction. It is expected that at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the largest stadium in Russia will be one of the main football venues.

Football stadiums are more than just a venue for sporting events. These are huge architectural structures, speakers business card countries. As the number of football fans grows, the area of stadiums also grows. The ranking of the largest stadiums in the world presents sports arenas with the largest capacity.

89,318 seats

The tenth position among the largest football stadiums in the world is occupied by the Luzhniki Stadium, which is ready to accommodate up to 89,318 fans in its stands. The construction of the sports facility was facilitated by the major victory of the USSR team at the 1952 Olympics. To further build up the sporting potential, it was decided to build the largest stadium in the country that meets all international standards.

Luzhniki was built in the shortest possible time, in just 450 days. The grand opening took place on July 31, 1956. The site has been rebuilt several times. At the beginning, the field and stands were open; at the end of the last century, canopies were installed over the spectator seats. For the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in 2018 in Moscow, Luzhniki will again be reconstructed taking into account UEFA requirements. Already, the turf of a football field corresponds to the fifth generation surface.

Luzhniki is a central place in the capital for football championships and major sports competitions. various types. It was there that the ceremonial closing and opening procedure of the 1980 Olympics took place; the famous 1999 match between the Russian national team and FIFA. Spacious spectator stands make the stadium a large venue for music concerts and public events.

90,000 seats

- the youngest of the ten largest stadiums with a capacity of 90,000 people. Its discovery occurred in 2007. The England Sports Complex was built on the site of the old Wembley. The football finals in 2012 as part of the Olympic Games were held at this sports facility. In appearance, the structure resembles a bowl, which has a roof that can slide apart. A hundred-meter lattice arch rises above the roof and supports the roof structure.

94,000 seats

Located in the Californian city of Pasedena, it is one of the most impressive grandstands in terms of capacity in the whole world. Its capacity reaches 94,000 people. This is one of the oldest large stadiums in the United States. Its opening took place in the 20s. The top view of the football arena is a huge pink bowl - this is how the name of the stadium is translated. Throughout its existence, the Rose Bowl has participated in several World Cups and has been a part of many soccer matches and tournaments. It also hosted competitions during the Olympic Games in the 1930s and 1980s.

94,700 seats

- the main sports arena in Africa, which is one of the the largest in the world. The area where the stands are located can accommodate up to 94,700 spectators. The opening of the sports facility took place in the late 80s. By 2010, the sports complex was completely restored to host the World Cup football championship. The stadium received the name “Kalabash” from the residents of the country, as it is visually very similar to this plant.

100 00 seats

It strives to live up to its name (“Europe’s Largest Stadium”), so in the near future it is expected to expand the stands and add about 100,000 more seats for fans. At the moment, the stands are ready to accommodate 99,354 guests. The sports arena is intended exclusively for football games. Concert performances by world stars are often held here. The stadium is one of the treasures of Spain, which was built in 1957.

100,000 seats

It was considered the most spacious sports arena for more than a decade (1971-1984). The stands of the Iranian stadium can accommodate up to 100,000 sports fans. In terms of area, this is perhaps the largest sports complex in the world. The area it occupies is approximately three million square meters.

100,200 seats

It was erected for the Commonwealth Games sports competitions in 1998. This is the largest sports complex in Malaysia and one of the largest on the planet. It is ready to receive 100,200 visitors on its territory. Matches for the Malaysian Football Cup and Super Cup take place here.

Azteca Stadium 105,000 seats

One of the three largest stadiums. The sports facility is located in Mexico City, the capital Latin America. Its stands can accommodate 105,000 fans.

Two World Cup finals were held here. The final, held in 1986, is famous for the “goal of the century”, scored by Diego Maradona. The famous football player scored a goal with his hand, thanks to which Argentina became world champion. In addition to football matches, public events are held here. For example, in 1993, a Michael Jackson concert took place at the stadium, and in 1999, Pope John Paul II met with Mexicans. The opening of the building took place in 1966.

120,000 seats

It is called the stadium of Indian youth. It is the second largest football stadium in the world and can accommodate 120,000 fans of sports matches on its territory. Its area is about three hundred nine thousand square meters. The unique shape of the structure is made in the form of an ellipse. The main purpose of the sports arena is football and athletics competitions. The stands are located under the roof, which is powerful design made of concrete and aluminum pipes. The discovery took place in 1984.

150,000 seats

- the most unique and largest stadium in terms of area and capacity in the whole world (Pyongyang, North Korea). It got its name in honor of the holiday of all workers - May 1. It is also called Rungnado, after the place where it is located. The largest football house can accommodate up to 150,000 fans in its area.

Besides sports games, are held in the arena national holidays Korea, which were able to get into the Guinness Book of Records for their mass participation and theatricality. The majestic sports facility attracts the eye with its aesthetic design, which from the outside resembles a magnolia - the national flower of the DPRK.

The stadium arches are arranged in a circle in the form of 16 petals. The largest and most beautiful sports facility has 80 entrances and exits. Its size is approximately 60 meters in height, and the area of the sports complex reaches two million square meters. The stadium opened on May 1, 1989.

We present the TOP 10 most capacious and largest football stadiums on the entire planet. Modern arenas amaze with their grandeur, architectural solutions and act as a calling card for cities and countries. The number of football fans in different parts of the world is only growing, and at the same time the capacity of the “temples” of football is increasing.

The once huge arena "Maracana" in sunny Rio de Janeiro, after reconstruction, can only accommodate 79 thousand fans. The Brazilian arena record was set at the final match of the 1950 World Cup - 199 thousand 854 visitors. Currently, the Maracana has dropped out of the list of the most capacious arenas in the world as a result of repairs and bringing the complex into compliance with new FIFA requirements.

The most famous stadiums, with a fantastic history of football battles, are: the pearl of Catalonia, the home arena of the football giant Barcelona - Nou Camp and the unique Azteca stadium in the capital of Mexico, which hosted the final matches of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups. The chronicle of world football was created at this stadium by the legendary Pele and Maradona, Rivelino and Riva, Rummenigge and Valdano.

The largest stadium in the world is located in the city of Pyongyang - Stadium 1 May. This unique structure resembles a magnolia in the form of 16 petals. The pride of North Korea, it got its name in honor of the Labor Day - May 1st. The largest stadium has a capacity of 150,000 fans who can enjoy the magic of football here.

Photo of the largest stadium in the world - May 1st Stadium, Pyongyang

The second position is occupied by the arena Salt Lake, the three tiers of majestic stands at this stadium in Kolkata, India, can accommodate 120,000 sports fans. The Indian Youth Stadium specializes in football, which is quite rare for this Asian country.

It's impossible not to remember "Wembley" And Luzhniki. Old Wembley with white towers, the legendary stadium of the England team, which became the only world champion there in 1966. They decided not to reconstruct the old stadium, but to build a new Wembley in its place. The symbol of the new stadium is a retractable roof and a unique arch 134 meters high. Since opening in 2007, it has a capacity of 90,000.

The reconstructed Moscow Luzhniki, host of the 1980 Olympics, has the status of an “elite” stadium and seats 90,000 and is the largest stadium in Russia. The final match of the 2018 World Cup will be held at Luzhniki.

Full list of TOP 10 world football arenas by capacity: