Football is one of the most popular and interesting sports. Although most of the top teams play in Europe, in countries like Germany, Brazil, Spain and England, the largest football stadium in the world built in Asia. Here are the top 10 largest football stadiums in terms of roominess. The data is taken from the database of stadiums StadiumDB.com and is current as of June 2018.
10. Borg El-Arab Stadium ("Borg Al-Arab") - 86,000 people
This stadium is located west of the Egyptian city of Alexandria, off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was built in 2007 by the Engineering Corps of the Armed Forces of Egypt and includes both a soccer field and an athletic track along the entire perimeter of the field. Thanks to this, Borg Al-Arab can be used as a multi-purpose sports arena.
And the Egyptian team plays in Cairo and does not use the country's largest stadium for its matches.
9. Bukit Jalil National Stadium ("Bukit Jalil Stadium") - 87 411 people
Although it is sometimes called the "stadium with 110 thousand seats", in fact it is much smaller. According to StadiumDB.com, the Bukit Jalil seats just over 87 thousand people. However, the Malaysian National Stadium, built on the outskirts of the capital of Kuala Lumpur, is the largest football stadium in the country.
8. Wembley ("Wembley") - 90 652 people
The largest stadium in England was born in agony (2003-2007). Firstly, it was built 4 years later than originally planned. Secondly, the cost of its construction amounted to 798 million pounds, and expected to spend half as much. Because of this, the general contractor and investors were in court, and many events had to be canceled.
The stadium is in the shape of a bowl with a retractable roof, and the seats are divided into 3 tiers, the middle of which is intended exclusively for persons who have reserved seats on a long-term basis. This scheme is highly profitable, but has also earned criticism from the media and fans. This approach is shared by regular fans, making it difficult to create a proper atmosphere.
The most characteristic feature of the stadium is, of course, a 133-meter steel arch, while the predecessor stadium had twin towers. At night, the arch lights up and is visible for many kilometers.
7. Bird’s Nest (Bird's Nest) - 91,000
The Chinese National Stadium, built in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics, will once again open its gates for the Olympians in the winter of 2022.
One of the largest football stadiums in the world was called the Bird’s Nest for a reason. It consists of a concrete bowl, around which 24 columns are located, and on top of them is a weaving of giant steel beams. They resemble the branches from which the nest of a huge bird is built. And just like a nest, the structure of the stadium seems chaotic and at the same time very durable. As the cost began to grow rapidly, the organizers abandoned the design of the retractable roof, which was originally supposed to be done under the "nest".
6. Rose Bowl ("Rose Bowl") - 92 542 people
The name of this American stadium comes from the Rose Bowl game, which is held here every year, starting January 1, 1923.
Initially, the stadium was horseshoe-shaped, but the open end of the “horseshoe” was closed by 1928. Until now, the bowl built then has not changed much, only minor additions or reconfigurations have been made.
Having a huge size, the stadium in its best years (1972-1997) was able to accommodate more than 104 thousand people. But due to the addition of seats, especially in the western and eastern zones, its size decreased to 92 542 people.
5. Soccer City ("Sokker City") - 94 736 people
The FNB Stadium, also known by the more recognizable name Soccer City, hosted the 2010 World Cup Final. Although its stands can accommodate 94,736 spectators, in 2010 only 84,490 spectators were allowed to enter the stadium, having reserved the remaining seats for VIPs and the press. The stadium is located in one of the most dangerous cities in the world - Johannesburg, South Africa.
Because of its shape resembling an African pot or a local pumpkin, the stadium was nicknamed Calabas.
4. Camp Nou ("Camp Nou") - 99 354 people
The famous club "Barcelona" has the honor to play not only in Spain, but also in the largest football stadium in Europe. Construction began in 1954 and lasted three years. Three - also the number of architects who managed the project - Francesca Mithans, Lorenzo Garcia Barbon, Jose Soteras Mauri.
From the very beginning, Camp Nou was an impressive construction. The initial capacity of 90,000 spectators was increased to 110,000 in 1978, and then to nearly 120,000 in anticipation of the 1982 World Cup. However, in the future, the safety rules of FIFA, UEFA and the national federation forced the stadium management to reduce the number of seats.
For many decades, Camp Nou has been a zone of World Cup games, Olympic Games, Cup Winners' Cups, Champions League and many other major events.
3. Melbourne Cricket Ground ("Melbourne Cricket Ground") - 100,024 people
The history of this Australian stadium, as the name implies, is primarily associated with cricket. But it is also used for football tournaments (the first game took place in 1859), earning the status of the “spiritual home” of the Australian team.
Along with major events in cricket (hosted 2 world championships), the stadium is also the annual venue for the Australian Football Championship. In addition, the best European clubs sometimes use this stadium for their foreign tournaments.
2. Estadio Azteca (Aztec Stadium) - 105,000 people
The second most capacious football stadium is located in the Mexican capital, Mexico City. It boasts one of the largest premium zones, which has 856 private lodges for corporate clients. Interestingly, the stadium is neither public property nor the property of a sports club. Its owner is the Mexican media group Televisa.
In 1986, the football legend Diego Maradona scored one of the most famous goals on this field - the “Hand of God”, during the game “Argentina against England” in the quarter-finals.
1. Rungrado May Day Stadium - 150,000 people
North Korea is not the most successful and wealthiest country in the world. However, she has something that other countries do not yet have. This is the largest football stadium in the world. It is designed for 150 thousand spectators. The total area of the structure is 207,000 m², and the height is 60 m.
The North Korean National Stadium was built on May 1, 1989 as a response to the construction of the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, as part of a rivalry between the two countries. The construction took 2.5 years, which is very fast for the construction of this scale.
The most spectacular element of the stadium is its roof. It forms 16 segments in the form of petals, which cover the stands and the 8-story building of the stadium. In form, it resembles a parachute or, in another symbolic connotation, a magnolia flower. The unique roof was awarded and awarded the first prize at the 1988 Geneva International Invention Exhibition.
Because of its scale, the stadium saw many remarkable events, setting a world attendance record in 1995. Then 190,000 spectators were accommodated in its stands.
When the North Korean football team does not play on the field, mass holidays are regularly held there. Also at the stadium in 1992 a public execution of generals was carried out, plotting to overthrow Kim Jong Il - the Sun of the nation and the Father of the people (this is far from all of his official titles).
The largest football stadium in Russia
In Moscow, not far from the Sparrow Hills is the Luzhniki Stadium. Its stands can accommodate 81 thousand spectators. Very soon (from June 14), the 2018 World Cup will begin there.
