Football is a sport that has garnered a massive following all over the world. It requires massive stadiums to accommodate all these sports fans during the match.
The 10 largest football stadiums in the world are as follows. The MCG might sound unfamiliar to football fans but this is the home of Australian Football League and it has hosted a number of matches in the past.
1. FNB Stadium
Located in Nasrec, Johannesburg, FNB Stadium is the largest football stadium in Africa and can seat up to 94,736 fans. Its nickname is Soccer City and it is famous for hosting the 2010 World Cup final between Netherlands and Spain (you may recall Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal against Andres Iniesta). It was originally opened in 1989 and it staged Nelson Mandela’s first speech after his release from prison before being revamped in 2009.
It is currently home to South African club Kaizer Chiefs and they are a regular fixture in international friendly matches. It has also hosted major artists and bands like Metallica, U2, Rihanna, Coldplay and others. It is a truly amazing venue and one of the most spectacular in the world. It has seen a lot of tragedy over the years due to overzealous policing and fan misbehaviour, but is still one of the best stadiums around.
2. Camp Nou
Football is one of the world’s most popular sports and therefore, it requires massive stadiums to accommodate all the fans. Whether it’s the home ground of an international football team or a local club, stadiums are where some of the most memorable moments in sport take place.
The Camp Nou is the largest club football stadium in Europe and can seat 99,354 people. The iconic venue has been the stage for Messi mastery, Pep Guardiola’s return to Barca and more. It’s also hosted a number of big-name concerts including U2, The Three Tenors and Julio Iglesias. The stadium is currently undergoing renovations that will see the capacity increase to 105,000. Until then, Barcelona play their games at the Olympic Stadium.
3. Signal Iduna Park
Home of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, the Westfalenstadion has been in operation since 1974 and was upgraded for the World Cup in 2006. You can recognise the stadium from the distance thanks to its iconic yellow pylons.
Sud: Known as the Yellow Wall this is the largest single-tier grandstand in Europe and is responsible for Dortmund's intimidating atmosphere. It also features a unique design that allows fans to stand on the upper-level for a more unified crowd experience.
Safety regulations have forced many European stadiums to remove standing areas in favour of seated seating but this hasn't stopped Signal Iduna Park from having an incredible capacity. Through a combination of sitting and standing, the stadium can seat up to 81,365 people for domestic matches. This is the second largest capacity in the world.
4. Stade de France
The Stade de France is one of the largest stadiums in Europe, and it can seat 81,338 people. It is the home of the French football and rugby national teams.
The stadium is often referred to as “le cauldron” due to the passionate and noisy atmosphere it creates for spectators. The Stade de France is the only venue in the world to have hosted a World Cup final for both football and rugby.
Construction began on the Stade de France in 1995, and it was inaugurated on January 28, 1998, with a goal from Zinedine Zidane against Spain. At the time it was known as the Grand Stade, and the French Ministry launched a competition to come up with a new name. It has been the host of numerous international matches and other major sports events.
5. Luzhniki Stadium
During the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium – then known as Central Lenin Stadium - hosted some of the tournament’s football matches and the final. It also served as the main venue for the 2018 World Cup, hosting 7 matches including the final.
The name Luzhniki translates as ‘The Meadows’, which is an appropriate name as the stadium was built on the site of flood meadows in the bend of the Moskva River. It was important to find a large plot of land that could be incorporated into the city center and would fit into Moscow’s transport network without much trouble.
The design of the stadium reflects these desires. It has a bowl design of continuous seating that is popular with newer European stadiums. This allows for a capacity of 81,000 people. It also has executive boxes that help to generate more revenue for the club.
6. Santiago Bernabeu
Football (or soccer in North America) is one of the most popular sports in the world. With such a massive following, it’s no surprise that some of the biggest stadiums in the world are dedicated to the game.
The home of Real Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu can seat 99,354 fans. Originally built in 1947, the stadium underwent a major overhaul in the early 1990s to comply with UEFA regulations that required all-seater stadiums. This included a third tier that increased capacity by 20,000, new corporate facilities and four access towers in each corner of the stadium, inspired by those at the San Siro.
Located in Kolkata, India, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan is home to two of Kolkata’s most popular clubs – Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The stadium has a capacity of 85,000 and is operated by the Indian Football Association.
7. Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium is known as The Big House and is a must-visit for football fans. It is the largest stadium in the United States that mainly hosts American football college games. It has a capacity of 109,901 and can hold crowds even higher than that.
The Michigan stadium was designed by Fielding Yost and originally opened in 1927. It has a single-tier grandstand that surrounds the playing field. When the stadium was built it had a capacity of 72,000 seats. The seating was expanded in various times throughout the years to reach its current capacity of 102,501.
There is a legend that Fritz Crisler, the legendary coach of the Wolverines team, has a seat somewhere in the stadium that is reserved for him every game. Michigan Stadium is also famous for its traditions like the throwing of marshmallows during the halftime break.
8. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is the world's largest football stadium in terms of seat capacity. The massive venue is located on the 20.7 hectares of Rungra Island in Pyongyang, North Korea and opened on 1 May 1989.
It's most well known for hosting the world famous Mass Games, a huge choreographed dance, gynmastics, and music performance that involves tens of thousands of people. The facility is also the home to the Arirang Festival, an annual event that celebrates the birth of North Korean leader Kim Il-sung.
In addition to football matches, the stadium has also hosted national level athletic competition finals and a pay-per-view wrestling event in 1995 that was attended by 190,000 fans. It can be difficult for foreigners to visit the stadium due to the repressive regime in North Korea. But those that do will be awed by the sheer size of this stadium.
9. Estadio Monumental
Known as “El Monumental,” the stadium of River Plate is an architectural marvel that was built at the interchanging of millenniums. This colossal structure is the biggest in Peru and the second-biggest in South America, with a capacity of 80,000.
The club’s home ground has witnessed many iconic moments, from the first ever league victory to the death of Nelson Mandela. But the highlight of all is when fans fill the stadium in order to witness their team win.
The stadium’s recent upgrade made it able to host the Argentina national football team matches. Some fans claim that this has made it the biggest football stadium in the world, but that is not true as North Korea’s Rungrado 1st of May Stadium holds more people.
10. Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Known as the Home of Football, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is home to Spanish football team Real Madrid. It also hosts rugby matches, NFL games, and music concerts. Several legendary musicians have played at Wembley Stadium, including Beyonce and Ed Sheeran.
The MCG is known primarily for its cricket grounds but has also hosted many football matches over the years. It’s the third largest stadium in the world and can hold up to 100,000 people.
Safety measures now require all stadiums to be seated, but this wasn’t always the case. Many of these stadiums used to have much higher capacities before they had to be reduced due to disasters such as Hillsborough and Heysel. Wembley Stadium boasts the most toilets of any building in the world, which makes it a great place to avoid the halftime bathroom rush.
