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The 10 Largest Football Stadium

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By ryankett

This hub takes a quick look at the ten largest football (soccer) stadiums in the world, of course this article should really be entitled 'The 10 Largest Football Stadiums' but I noticed far too late to change it and no way am I starting again! I have since followed up this hub with a closer look at 'The 10 Largest English Football Stadiums'.


1. Rungrado May Day Stadium (150,000)

The Rungrado May Day Stadium is located in Pyongyang, North Korea, and is actually a multi-purpose stadium which is also used for other sports including athletics. With a capacity of 150,000 it is not only the largest football stadium in the world but also the largest non auto-racing stadium in the world. It is currently used by the North Korean National football team.


2. Salt Lake Stadium (120,000)

The Salt Lake Stadium in West Bengal, India, is also a multi-use stadium and has a capacity of 120,000. It is, like the Rungrado Stadium, also used for athletics. The stadium was completed in 1984 and consists of a three tier configuration. The Salt Lake Stadium is primarily used as a football stadium with three of the big clubs in Indian football using the stadium, these clubs being Mohun Bagan AC, East Bengal FC and Mohammedan SC. The stadium is also often used by the Indian national team and important national games, such as cup finals.


3. Estadio Azteca (105,000)

The Estadio Azteca is located in Mexico City, Mexico, and is the official home stadium of both the Mexican National Team and Mexican league team Club America. The first game in the stadium was played on May 26th 1966 and it originally had a capacity of 114,000, this had to be reduced later to 105,000 for safety reasons. The stadium has been used for a wide variety of major events, including the 1968 Summer Olympics, theĀ 1970 FIFA World Cup and the 1986 FIFA World Cup


4. Melbourne Cricket Ground (100,000)

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is located in... err, well.. Melbourne of course. The stadium is remembered internationally for being the centrepiece of the 1956 Summer Olympics and more recently the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and holds 100,000 people. It is used primarily for Cricket and Australian Rules Football but makes this list due to the Australian National Football Team using it for many of its competitive games


5. Azardi Stadium (100,000)

The Azardi Stadium in Tehran is home to the Iran national football team as well as two professional Iranian teams, Persepolis F.C. and Esteghlal F.C. It was completed in 1971 and holds 100,000 people. It was originally built for the 1974 Asian games which Iran hosted and had a capacity of 110,000, this was reduced to 90,000 following the installation of seats in the lower tiers of the stadium in 2003.


6. Bukit Jalil National Stadium (100,000)

Bukik Jalil National Stadium is located in the Malaysian city of, well Bukik Jalil! It was opened in 1998 to coincide with the 1998 Commonwealth games which was hosted in the country. The stadium holds 100,000 people, is all seated, and is multi-purpose. It is primarily used now as the home of the Malaysian National Football Team, but is also used for a variety of other sporting events and concerts; Gwen Stefani amongst the major acts to play there.



7. Camp Nou (98,772)

The Camp Nou, often called the 'Nou Camp' by English speaking people, is the home of Spanish giants FC Barcelona and has been since its construction in 1957. It is rated by FIFA as a 5-star stadium and has hosted a number of important matches including International games andĀ some UEFA Champions League finals. The stadiums capacity of 98,772 makes it the largest stadium in Europe. When the stadium first opened it had a capacity of 93,053 before rising to 105,000 for the 1982 FIFA World Cup which was hosted in the country. The outlawing of standing in football grounds in the late 1990's saw the ground capacity reduced to just below 99,000. Other major events at the stadium include sell out concerts (with artists including Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra) and in 1982 a congregation with Pope John Paul II.


8. Maracana (96,000)

The Maracana is a stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, which holds 96,000 people. It was first opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup but has mainly been used since to host the matches between the largest clubs in Rio De Janeiro (including Flamengo, Botafogo, Vasco De Gama and Fluminese). The stadium once held an astonishing 200,000 people and the attendance at the 1950 FIFA World Cup final was 199,854. Despite the reduction in capacity the stadium is still the largest in South America and is due to hold the World Cup Final in the 2014 World Cup; it will become only the second stadium to host the World Cup Final twice.


9. Beijing National Stadium (91,000)

The Beijing National Stadium, also affectionally known as 'The Bird's Nest' is a stadium in Beijing, China. The stadium was built to host the 2008 Summer Olympics and is the world's largest steel structure. Since the Olympics the stadium has had trouble attracting events so there are plans to incorporate a shopping mall and a hotel, it remains to be seen whether this development will reduce the capacity of 91,000. Technically the stadium should probably not be on this list, as no football team has a tenancy, although the ground did hold the 2009 Italian Supercoppa final and the 2008 Olympic Men's Soccer tournament.


10. Wembley Stadium (90,000)

Wembley Stadium, which is located in London, was completed in 2007 and replaced the previous famous 'Wembley Stadium'. Wembley is primarily a football stadium and is owned by The Football Association (FA). The stadium hosts England's home international matches and the main English domestic cup finals. It is also used for various other sporting events and concerts. Its capacity of 90,000 makes it the second largest in Europe and is the largest stadium in the world to have every seat covered. In 2011 Wembley will host the UEFA Champions League Final. It will also be used to host many of the events at the forthcoming 2012 London Summer Olympics. For a further look at English football stadiums, visit 'The 10 Largest English Football Stadiums'


A Very Highly Recommended Book.....

The Stadium: Architecture for the New Global Culture The Stadium: Architecture for the New Global Culture
If you have an interest in global sports stadiums, particular the stunning architecture, then I can fully recommend this book. To sum it up in a one word... "Fantastic".
Price: $30.06
List Price: $45.00

World Cup in the News

  • Indonesia's bid to host '22 World Cup in questionSports Illustrated8 hours ago

    JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Indonesia's bid to host the 2022 football World Cup grew increasingly uncertain Tuesday as the deadline for the country's government to file a letter of support for the bid loomed.

  • Legend Gullit appointed president of World Cup bidESPN Soccernet2 hours ago

    Former world player of the year Ruud Gullit has been named president of Holland and Belgium's bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

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stuart747 profile image

stuart747  says:
7 months ago

a very good hub showcasing some very big stadiums

BristolBoy profile image

BristolBoy  says:
7 months ago

An impressive list. Wembley truly is a world class stadium, and argubly the bets of all of the stdaiums on the list for facilities. How many of the other stadiums have toilets which beat those of top hotels and restaurants?

ryankett profile image

ryankett  says:
7 months ago

Thanks guys. To be honest BristolBoy I haven't made it to Wembley yet; and being a Norwich City fan a trip isn't too likely in the near future! Been to the Nou Camp though, and that was something special!

Research Analyst profile image

Research Analyst  says:
6 months ago

These football stadiums are really grand indeed, I still have not seen a live game which I guess I should add to my bucket list of things to do. From the photos I would have to say that

the Maracana stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil is so beautiful and I agree that a shopping mall and hotel will be a great added feature for more foot traffic.

ryankett profile image

ryankett  says:
6 months ago

Well if you are from California Research Analyst then I recommend that you get yourself down to watch the San Jose Earthquakes, just make sure that a player named Darren Huckerby is fit for the match that you see... he signed for them from my hometown club Norwich (in the UK) and is a very talented player!

rosariomontenegro profile image

rosariomontenegro  says:
5 months ago

AND WHO WON THE WORLD CUP AT MARACANA, PLEASE?

Just tell the world, do not hide the glory of the little country any more.

ryankett profile image

ryankett  says:
5 months ago

You what? I did a hub about Football Stadiums, not world cup history. Im not to say who won it now on principle, show a little bit more respect. It was also 59 years ago, I am 24 years old, go figure.

Elena. profile image

Elena.  says:
5 months ago

When it comes to footie, I always have my team FCB featured in your hubs :-) Didn't know about that biggest one in North Korea. I mean, who can know anything about that country, anyhow. Good to be always learning something new :)

prasetio30 profile image

prasetio30  says:
5 months ago

great research.thanks for share. wonderful and largest stadiums.there is no stadium like this in my country.

Ashley Carew  says:
4 months ago

Nice info, not sure about the MCG as a football stadium though as most football (of the proper kind) that is played in Mellie is at the Ethiad Stadium (formerly the telstra dome) I have had the pleasure of visiting both of the above, the Nou Camp and also the Maracana as well. Never even heard of the No. 1. Thanks for the info

Sayan Ray profile image

Sayan Ray  says:
3 months ago

Well, i'm an East Bengal fan and trust me, on matchdays (especially derby days) No. 2 can seem like the mother of all Amphitheatres. You wouldn't believe that we suck in football if you saw the kind of support that is packed in on these occasions. :)

Btw I didn't know MCG also doubles up as a football stadium.

Nice Hub. Very informative!!

baoreo  says:
2 months ago

How about a list of the most expensive/best designed?

paulo  says:
2 months ago

sorry but MARACANA stadium can take 103.000 supporters.

ryankett profile image

ryankett  says:
2 months ago

@paulo - Sorry but your WRONG, in fact it now holds just 89,000 and shouldnt be on this list. I am delighted to inform you that I will be removing it from the list shortly.

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