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The 10 Biggest Football Stadiums in the World

What are the biggest football stadiums in the world? Big crowds are what creates electrifying atmospheres with all the noise, the chants and the tension. Not all the biggest football stadiums have hosted World Cup matches. Some stadiums will even surprise you where they are in less traditional footballing nations. Let’s take a look at the 10 biggest football stadiums in the world, the total opposite to the smallest Premier League stadiums.

10. Salt Lake Stadium, India (85,000)

The biggest stadium in India was once the biggest football stadium in the world with a capacity of 120,000. Its capacity has gradually shrunk to 85,000 which is what its at today.

Officially called the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium, it was built in 1984 and is home to India’s national football team as well as I-League teams ATK Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan.

The stadium has famously hosted Bayern Munich and Oliver Kahn’s farewell match, as well as an Argentina friendly featuring Lionel Messi.

9. Borg El Arab Stadium, Egypt (86,000)

The second largest stadium in Africa was built to help Egypt’s ultimately unsuccessful bid to host the 2010 World Cup which was awarded to South Africa.

Borg El Arab has played host to FIFA competitions such as the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. It’s also the home base of the Egyptian national team as well as two Egyptian Premier League teams Smouha SC and Al Ittihad.

8. Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Malaysia (87,411)

Bukit Jalil National Stadium was built to host the 1998 Commonwealth Games which took place in September of that same year. The stadium has served mostly as the home ground of the Malaysian national team and is one of the biggest stadiums in the world.

The stadium is often used to host major tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games and the ASEAN University Games. Premier League giants Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have headlined matches at Bukit Jalil during preseason tours.

7. Estadio Azteca, Mexico (87,523)

The Estadio Azteca is one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world. It has hosted memorable events including the 1986 FIFA World Cup, 1968 Summer Olympics, and one of the greatest moments in football history – the “Hand of God” goal by Diego Maradona against England in a 1986 World Cup quarter-final match.

The stadium is the biggest in Mexico and the seventh biggest football stadium in the world. It’s even hosted events such as a Micheal Jackson concert. The Estadio Azteca is the home of the Mexican national team as well as Liga MX clubs Cruz Azul and Club America.

6. Wembley Stadium, England (91,000)

When it comes to English football, it doesn’t get any bigger than the “Home of Football” – Wembley Stadium. Built on the site of the original stadium which opened in 1923, it was demolished in 2003 and entirely rebuilt.

Opening in 2007, the stadium has hosted elite football matches like the 2011 & 2013 UEFA Champions League Finals, 2020 Euros Finals, English FA Cup Finals and the Football League Playoffs.

Wembley is one of the most recognisable stadiums in the world thanks to its 133-metre tall arch that spans 315 metres. The stadium is the primary home of the England national football team and has also played host to other huge sporting events like boxing, rugby, the NFL and many concerts.

5. Rose Bowl, USA (92,800)

Although the Rose Bowl is known as an iconic American Football stadium and host of the famous annual Rose Bowl, it is also one of America’s major soccer stadiums and one of the biggest football stadiums in the world. The Rose Bowl opened in 1922 and is arguably the most important soccer venue in the United States.

It has hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final and the 1984 Olympic soccer gold medal match. The Rose Bowl is also the main home stadium for the United States Men’s National Team. Teams like Barcelona, Liverpool, and Chelsea have also played preseason tour games at the Rose Bowl.

4. FNB Stadium, South Africa (94,736)

The First National Bank (FNB) Stadium, also known as Soccer City, or the Calabash, was the centrepiece of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Who can forget the sounds of the vuvuzelas…

South Africa’s premier stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the World Cup Final. FNB Stadium is the biggest in Africa and has also hosted the African Cup of Nations in 1996 and 2013.

It hosts many South African national team games and is also the home of the Kaizer Chiefs. Beyond football it was also the site of Nelson Mandela’s first speech after regaining his freedom in 1990.

3. Camp Nou, Spain (99,354)

Camp Nou is the third biggest football stadium and one of the most recognizable in the world. Home of FC Barcelona since 1957, the biggest stadium in Europe has seen many great players such as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Thierry Henry grace the pitch.

The ground has hosted two Champions League Finals, 1982 FIFA World Cup matches and the 1992 Summer Olympics. It’s also host to the biggest rivalry in football. In 1982 Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass on the ground in front of a congregation of more than 120,000.

2. Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia (100,024)

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as “The G”, is a sports stadium which hosts mostly cricket and Australian Rules Football games. The largest stadium in Australia has hosted top football matches like the 1956 Olympic Final between USSR and Yugoslavia, crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and many international games for the Socceroos.

Top clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid have also played at MCG during preseason games. It’s one of the biggest football stadiums in the world with its own record of 99,382 fans packing into the MCG to watch Manchester City take on Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup back in 2015.

1. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, North Korea (114,000)

Although little is known about the stadium, the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is widely accepted as the biggest football stadium in the world with a known capacity of at least 114,000. The multipurpose stadium was opened in 1989 as the main venue for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students.

Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is unique with an unusual roof structure that features 16 arches arranged in a ring. The stadium is home to the Korea DPR National Football team, DPR Korea Women’s National Football team, and the April 25 sports club of the DPR Korea League.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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