The 7 biggest football stadiums in Europe
Everywhere you go in Europe you are likely to find a football stadium. But some grounds are so large that it is impossible not to spot them. On top of that, visiting a match in these gigantic stadiums is not always that difficult given their capacities. That’s why SANTOS has listed the seven largest football stadiums in Europe for you.
1. Camp Nou – 99,354
FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou is the largest football stadium in Europe with a capacity of 99.354. But even this substantial amount of seats is insufficient for the European powerhouse. In the summer of 2023, the stadium will get a renovation, after which the capacity will be extended to 105.000. During this three-year-long renovation, the Catalan club will play its home matches in the Estadí Olímpic Lluís Companys, the Olympic Stadium of the Olympic Games in 1992.
A visit to FC Barcelona and Camp Nou is perhaps the most classic football trip there is. It is a tourist hotspot and getting a ticket is relatively easy given the arena’s large capacity.
2. Wembley Stadium – 90,000
Wembley Stadium is the biggest stadium in the UK. The stadium hosts football matches of the English national football team and major games in English football such as the FA Cup and League Cup finals and the Football League play-offs. A stadium solely used for the biggest occasions. Wembley is a must-see for any seasoned football fan.
3. Signal Iduna Park – 81,365
The Signal Iduna Park, or the Westfalenstadion, is one of Europe's largest and most magical stadiums. With an enormous capacity of 81,365, Borussia Dortmund’s faithful are able to make each match a noisy affair. Witnessing the Yellow Wall with your own eyes is truly a spectacle. Grounds like these are very special.
4. Stade de France – 81,338
Stade de France is the French national football team's home ground and also hosts the Coupe de France. The colossal stadium is located in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. It is a huge stadium with large stairways on the outside, but it is a bit null. It is a historical place for the French, they even won the World Cup here in 1998, but they do not only have warm memories of this stadium. Ask them about their loss in the UEFA Euro 2016 final and you will notice you have touched on a sensitive subject.
5. Santiago Bernabéu – 81,044
Starting the 2023/24 season, Real Madrid will play in a brand new Santiago Bernabéu. The old and iconic concrete exterior will be replaced with a sparkling steel façade. The club names the new Bernabéu the ‘digital stadium of the future’. And with an immense capacity of 81.044, the stadium has obviously also reserved a spot on this list.
6. Luzhniki Stadium – 81,000
Luzhniki is the home ground of the Russian national football team and temporarily of FK Torpedo Moscow, but the stadium is mostly known for the large games that have been played here. The ground that opened in 1956 has hosted the Olympic Games in 1980, the UEFA Champions League final in 2008 and the FIFA World Cup final in 2018. The capacity was extended to 81.000 for the FIFA World Cup.
7. San Siro – 78,275
Another legendary European football stadium that you must visit. But be fast, because the home ground of Inter and AC Milan will be demolished within a couple of years. The huge concrete stadium has 78.275 seats. A true icon in football’s history and one where you can feel the mark football has left on this world.
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