The planet Earth does feature some incredible pieces of architecture that make up the football stadium. Some are very small, suitable for the teams that play in the grounds, while others are gigantic, attracting huge numbers of people.
How many of these would you have thought would be in world’s top ten largest football stadiums?
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
Capacity: 150,000
Where is it? Pyongyang
Year Opened: 1989
North Korea’s national stadium opened on 1st May 1989, which coincided with International Workers’ Day. The stadium was built as a response to South Korea’s Olympic Stadium and hosts the Mass Games annually, however it is also the location for shows dedicated to the Kim family.
Did you know? In 1995, the stadium hosted the Collision in Korea, the largest professional wrestling pay-per-view event ever. It took place over two days and had a daily attendance of 150,000 and 190,000 according to local authorities.
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
Capacity: 100,800
Where is it? Jakarta
Year Opened: 1962
Indonesia’s largest stadium is located within the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex and is named after the country’s first president, Sukarno. It seats 88,083, but often fills up to a six figure capacity as there is also space for people to stand. The stadium has held plenty of major tournaments and will be the host of the 2018 Asian Games.
Did you know? Pope John Paul II led the Grand Catholic mass in the stadium in October 1989.
Camp Nou
Capacity: 99,345
Where is it? Barcelona
Year Opened: 1957
Camp Nou is Europe’s largest football stadium and when it undergoes its renovation, it’s going to be even bigger. It has seen some fantastic football over the last decade and was also the most frequently used stadium at the 1982 World Cup.
Did you know? The stadium was originally planned to be called “Estadi del FC Barcelona”, but this was deemed unpopular and it was instead called the “Camp Nou”.
Estadio Azteca
Capacity: 95,500
Where is it? Mexico City
Year Opened: 1966
The Estadio Azteca is one of the world’s most iconic stadiums and it sits at an altitude of 7,200 feet above sea level. It is the only stadium to have hosted two World Cup finals and was also the scene for the infamous Diego Maradona “Hand of God” goal in 1986.
Did you know? This stadium hosted the “Game of the Century”, when Italy beat West Germany 4-3 in extra time in the semi-final of the 1970 World Cup.
FNB Stadium
Capacity: 94,736
Where is it? Johannesburg
Year Opened: 1989
The Soccer City stadium originally opened in 1989, but it underwent reconstruction in time for the 2010 World Cup, which saw its capacity increase to over 94,000. It’s officially known as the FNB Stadium and also hosted the 2010 World Cup final, as well as an annual fixture featuring the South African rugby team.
Did you know? It was the site of Nelson Mandela’s first speech in Johannesburg, following his release from prison in 1990 and itserved as the venue for a memorial service to him in December 2013.
Rose Bowl
Capacity: 93,420
Where is it? Pasadena
Year Opened: 1922
The Rose Bowl was created for the purpose of hosting American football games, but it’s also hosted its fair share of football matches, including the 1994 World Cup final. LA Galaxy were tenants for seven years and the stadium has also held International Champions Cup matches in recent years.
Did you know? The Rose Bowl has hosted the Pasadena “Americafest” Independence Day celebration annually since 1927. The fireworks display is considered to be one of the best in the USA.
Wembley Stadium
Capacity: 90,000
Where is it? London
Year Opened: 2007
When the old Wembley was demolished in 2000, it was well past its sell-by date and its replacement has become one of the world’s leading modern stadiums. It hosts national cup finals, is the permanent home of the England national team and has also hosted other major sporting events. Its cost has however been a controversial talking point.
Did you know? Aside from football, Wembley has also hosted rugby league, rugby union, American football and boxing events.
Bukit Jalil National Stadium
Capacity: 87,411
Where is it? Kuala Lumpur
Year Opened: 1996
The Bukit Jalil National Stadium was built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games and has since become a favoured pre-season destination for Premier League clubs. It is Malaysia’s largest stadium and has also been used as an athletics stadium.
Did you know? The stadium is equipped with 1,500 floodlights.
Borg El Arab Stadium
Capacity: 86,000
Where is it? Alexandria
Year Opened: 2007
The Borg El Arab Stadium was built as part of Egypt’s 2010 World Cup bid and is the second-largest stadium in Africa. Despite failing in their bid to host the World Cup, the stadium now hosts the Egyptian national team and major cup finals.
Did you know? The stadium was originally built as part of Egypt’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
Azadi Stadium
Capacity: 84,412
Where is it? Tehran
Year Opened: 1973
The Azadi Stadium is the centre of Iranian football and hosts the nation’s two biggest clubs, Esteghlal and Persepolis. In addition to that, the stadium is also used for the Iranian national team’s home games. It’s been described as the most intimidating stadium in the world, but due to security concerns, not many major teams play there. At the moment, the biggest name to play there is former Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel.
Did you know? Frank Sinatra held a concert in the stadium in November 1975.
