From Europe to the Americas, and Africa to Asia, the biggest football stadiums in the world vary in design and capacity.
The unique features that distinguish one venue from another give these stadiums a special appeal to millions of fans worldwide. These colossal arenas, from the historic Maracana in Brazil to the sprawling Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea, are more than just venues – they are symbols of cultural pride and global passion.
Read on to find out which venues dominate our list of the world's top 20 biggest football stadiums.
Top 20 biggest football stadiums in the world
We could have settled on any big stadium worldwide, but our list is based on extensive research and fact-finding. Below, we present the 20 biggest football stadiums in the world.
Before we explore each of the biggest stadiums in the world in this post, here is a map showing their locations.
20. Japan National Stadium
- Location: Shinjuku, Japan
- Opened:2019
- Seating Capacity: 80,000
- Construction Cost: €1.3 billion
Japan National Stadium was designed by architect Kengo Kuma and built at €1.3 billion. The multi-purpose venue, mostly used for football matches, was constructed ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. It was the main venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Today, Japan National Stadium is one of the biggest stadiums in the world and has hosted some important matches in recent years. For example, in March 2024, the stadium hosted a World Cup Qualifier match between Japan and North Korea, a match that the hosts won. Japan have also hosted Brazil, Uruguay and Thailand at the National Stadium for friendly fixtures.
19. Stade des Martyrs
- Location: Kinshasha, Congo
- Opened: 1994
- Seating Capacity: 80,000
- Construction Cost: €35.2 million
Stade des Martyrs, originally named Stade Kamanyola, is the National Stadium in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a seating capacity of 80,000, it is one of the biggest football venues in the world and also in Africa. It is also the biggest stadium in D.R.C. and home to the national football team.
The venue is also home to two teams in the Congolese local league, Vita Club and Daring Club Motema Pembe. In addition to football, Stade des Martyrs has served as a concert venue, hosting various national artists and events.
18. Beijing National Stadium
- Location: Beijing, China
- Opened: 2008
- Seating Capacity: 80,000
- Construction Cost: €397 million
Designed to host the 2008 Olympics, Beijing National Stadium is one of the biggest stadiums in the world today. The venue covers 204,000 square metres and boasts a seating capacity of 80,000.
The stadium was constructed for 397 million Euros, making it one of the most expensive football stadiums in the world. It also featured an all-weather running track and at least 11,000 temporary seats, which usually pushed its maximum capacity to 91,000.
17. Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium
- Location: Hangzhou, China
- Opened: 2018
- Seating Capacity: 80,800
- Construction Cost: €313 million
Hangzhou Olympics Sports Center in China also makes it to our list of the biggest stadiums in the world. The venue, which has a capacity of 80,000, was completed in 2018 and is mostly used to host football matches.
Some of the biggest football events that have taken place here include the Asian Games in 2022 and the Asian Para Games in the same year.
16. Luzhniki Stadium
- Location: Moscow, Russia
- Opened:1956
- Seating Capacity: 81,000
- Construction Cost: €350 million
Luzhniki Stadium is not only more than half a century old but is also ranked highly among the biggest stadiums in the world. Constructed for 350 million, Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, has been renovated several times over the years. A record attendance at this 80,000-capacity venue was in October 1963 when the Soviet Union hosted Italy.
The Moscow government owns the stadium, and it is the largest football venue in Russia. In 2018, Luzhniki Stadium was one of the FIFA World Cup stadiums and even hosted the final game between France and Croatia. France won 4-2 in the encounter.
Other notable football events that have taken place at the venue include the UEFA Cup final between Marseille and Parma in 1999, and the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea in 2008.
15. Stade de France
- Location: Saint-Denis, France
- Opened: 1998
- Seating Capacity: 81,338
- Construction Cost: €364m
Built before the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the Stade de France hosted the tournament’s opening and final games. It has also hosted four UEFA Champions League finals (2000, 2006, 2022) and three Rugby World Cup finals (1999, 2007, 2023) and athletics during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The Stade de France has a movable stand that unveils an athletics track without ruining the spectator experience during football matches when supporters prefer to be closer to the pitch.
Despite its clear value as a football ground, no professional club plays its matches here regularly. Paris Saint-Germain spurned the opportunity to do so upon its construction in 1998. PSG have instead remained at the Parc des Princes.
Today, Stade France is regarded as not only France's national arena but also one of the biggest football stadiums in the world. Apart from being a popular Champions League finals stadium, the venue also hosts multiple other sports and concerts.
Stade France has a capacity of 80,000 seats and took nearly three years to build between 2 June 1995 and 28 January 1998. Moreover, Stade France was designed by Michel Macary, Michel Regembal, and Aymeric Zublena.
14. Signal Iduna Park
- Location: Dortmund, Germany
- Opened: 1974
- Seating Capacity: 81,365
- Construction Cost: €200 million in 2006
Signal Iduna Park is the home of German outfit Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund are undoubtedly one of the top European clubs, and the 81 365-capacity Signa Iduna adds to that flair.
Constructed in 1974 as one of the stadiums that hosted the 1974 World Cup, Signal Iduna Park has gone on to create a brand for itself. The stands are very close to the pitch, creating an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams and fans. With that, Signal Iduna Park is ranked highly among the top European football venues with the best atmospheres. The ground is also home to the largest free-standing stand among European stadiums, as it can hold 25,000 spectators. This stand is also nicknamed the ‘Yellow Wall’.
Unlike most stadiums in Europe, which have eliminated standing spaces, Signal Iduna Park still offers fans the option of purchasing stand-only tickets.
Over the years, several modifications to the stadium have reduced its original capacity and standing areas have been reduced to seated rows. As one of the biggest football stadiums in the world, Signal Iduna Park hosted several games during the World Cups in 1974 and 2006.
While this is slightly lower on our list, the presence of standing fans certainly creates a unique vibe—and we hope things remain this way in the future.
Signal Iduna Park was also among the Euro 2024 stadiums, including the semi-final match between Netherlands and England. The Three Lions defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the encounter at the iconic venue.
13. Jakarta International Stadium
- Location: North Jakarta, Indonesia
- Opened: 2022
- Seating Capacity: 82,000
- Construction Cost: $312m
The home ground of Persija Jakarta and the semi-regular home of Indonesia’s national side, this 82,000-capacity ground is the largest football-specific arena in Asia.
Furthermore, it's the biggest football stadium in the world with a retractable roof and the second-largest stadium of any kind with a retractable roof, behind the Texas AT&T Stadium.
The ground hosted 16 matches at the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup.
With a construction cost of $312 million, Jakarta International Stadium is one of the most expensive football facilities in Asia. In addition, it boasts the largest retractable roof in Asia and the second largest in the world, following Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu.
12. Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
- Location: 1947
- Opened: Madrid, Spain
- Seating Capacity: 83,186
- Construction Cost: €1.7 million (but recent renovation costs have soared to $1.5bn)
Stadium redevelopment is the big thing now, especially with the growing fanbase. The desire to increase seating capacity and make stadiums even more welcoming with the best atmosphere has seen many football clubs like Real Madrid embark on ambitious redevelopment projects.
With that, as another ground to undergo a significant renovation in recent times, the home of Real Madrid remains imposing in size and appearance, but now with an added spaceship-style exterior.
The Bernabeu, named after a former club president, has hosted four European Cup/UEFA Champions League finals (1957, 1969, 1980, 2010), the 2018 Copa Libertadores final, the 1964 Euros final and the 1984 World Cup final.
Spain’s second-largest stadium, Real Madrid, have played at the Bernabeu since 1947.
Moreover, Los Blancos' home ground is highly ranked among venues that have hosted UEFA Champions League fixtures. A match at the Santiago Bernabeu always feels different, especially on European and El Clásico nights.
11. Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti
- Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Opened: 1938
- Seating Capacity: 83,198
- Construction Cost: $3m (initial construction, several renovations since)
The home of Argentinian giants River Plate, the iconic El Monumental hosted the 1978 World Cup final and four Copa America finals, most recently in 2011.
Recent renovations have removed the athletics track and expanded its capacity to over 83,000. When the renovation is fully completed, the capacity will be 84,567. That work should be done in 2024.
10. Stadium Australia
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Opened: 1999
- Seating Capacity: 83,500
- Construction Cost: A$690m
Currently known as the Accor Stadium for sponsorship reasons, Stadium Australia was built ahead of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was opened in March 1999 with a rugby league double-header, which attracted 104,583 supporters. After the Olympics, the stadium was reconfigured, reducing its capacity to 80,000 but it remains one of the biggest football stadiums in the world.
The largest ‘soccer’ stadium in Australia, this ground hosts crucial matches for the Socceroos, the Australian national football team. Furthermore, Sydney FC have played several fixtures at the ground, normally exhibition matches against foreign opponents. The A-League All-Stars have done the same.
In 2023, Stadium Australia hosted five matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, including the opening match and the final.
The ground is a multi-sports venue that hosts rugby league, rugby union, cricket, Aussie rules football, motorsports, American football, and music concerts.
The Bee Gees were the first to perform there, with AC/DC, U2, Bon Jovi, Eminem, Taylor Swift, Guns N’ Roses, Adele, Justin Bieber, the Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Harry Styles and The Weekend following. Coldplay is scheduled to play here in 2024.
9. Borg El-Arab Stadium
- Location: Borg El Arab, Egypt
- Opened: 2009
- Seating Capacity: 86,000
- Construction Cost: €200 million in 2006
This is the third largest stadium in Africa and sits behind only the FNB Stadium in terms of total capacity. It's also behind the New Administrative Capital Stadium, which hasn't yet hosted a game.
Until the latter is officially opened, the 86,000-capacity Borg El-Arab Stadium is by a comfortable margin the largest in Egypt.
Unlike many other stadiums of its kind, it has been air-conditioned in many places so that the extreme weather conditions in this part of the world are combated with great efficiency. The designers have put in a massive effort to ensure that the stadium offers every type of facility, including two sub-stadiums with a capacity of 2,000 spectators.
The Egyptian national football team calls this stadium home. It recently made history after becoming the ground from which Egypt qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Apart from a football pitch, the Borg El-Arab Stadium also has running tracks and other sections for the Olympic Games.
You can just imagine the noise in this stadium, too, when players such as Mohamed Salah take to the field to represent the Egyptian national team. At full capacity, the atmosphere is electric, although we imagine the seats in the shade are like gold dust, given the heat in this part of the world.
8. Bukit Jalil National Stadium
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Opened: 1998
- Seating Capacity: 87,411
- Construction Cost: RM800 million
The Malaysian national football team may not be high on the FIFA rankings, but that does not stop the national team from having one of the biggest football stadiums in the world.
The Bukit Jalil National Stadium, built for RM800 million, is a colossus that can hold more than 87,000 spectators. It is the largest stadium of its kind in Southeast Asia. Therefore, it is not surprising that it has hosted many other events besides the Malaysian national team's matches.
The Bukit Jalil National Stadium has hosted the Commonwealth Games, Southeast Asian Games, and more. This multisport venue has a roof and is largely constructed of reinforced concrete. Despite being relatively new, major renovation works have already been carried out, bringing in much-needed features like new facilities and LED lighting.
More features are in the works, such as retractable seats, retractable roofs, and lifestyle facilities will also be included in the stadium as part of the upcoming renovation works.
As you can probably tell from the photo, this stadium is pretty high, too, so with the retractable roof in full flow, it must be incredibly loud, vibrant, and awesome to play in. As stated before, Malaysia isn't a prestigious footballing nation, but since this is one of the largest stadiums in the world, we imagine it is intimidating for travelling teams!
7. Estadio Azteca
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
- Opened: 1966
- Seating Capacity: 87,525
- Construction Cost: MXN$260 million
An iconic image in Mexico City would be the Estadio Azteca, the home turf of the Mexican national team, Cruz Azul, and Club America. One of the major reasons behind the stadium being steeped in history is the prestige of hosting two World Cup finals – 1970 and 1986.
This stadium also witnessed one of the iconic moments in world football when Diego Maradona came up with the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.
Estadio Azteca is also widely regarded for hosting the game between Italy and West Germany in 1970. This encounter is regarded as a ‘Game of the Century’ and it witnessed Italy coming out on top with a 4-3 score after extra time.
Estadio Azteca can add more feathers to its proverbial cap, considering it is in line to host games at the World Cup 2026. Apart from the World Cup, Estadio Azteca has also been the destination for the Summer Olympics and the Women's World Cup in the past.
The stadium has not shown its age even now, as frequent renovation works have consistently added new features like LED panels and new leisure spaces. Recently, the addition of executive boxes has reduced the capacity to 87,000. However, it remains one of the biggest football stadiums in the world.
If you were to contemplate visiting any stadium in Mexico, this one would rank highly on the list – for all the reasons previously mentioned. It’s a holy place for football in Mexico, and since it has hosted so many prestigious games in the past, the Estadio Azteca isn’t only one of the biggest, it’s one of the most iconic stadiums on this list.
6. Wembley Stadium
- Location: London, England
- Opened: 2007
- Seating Capacity: 90,000
- Construction Cost: £789 million in 2007
Wembley, the “home of football,” is the home stadium of the England national football team. Costing £800 million, it was first opened in 2007, and its 90,000-capacity was a sight to behold even then.
While the eye-watering fee was controversial at the time, the former Wembley Stadium, which opened in 1923, had been showing its age for a long time. Anyone lucky enough to visit the old Wembley will remember it as an iconic stadium. However, the new Wembley is a very special stadium.
Wembley isn't just the home of the England national football team, however. As analyzed by William Hill's research team, 38% of cup finals here see goals after the 80th minute, making it a graveyard for pre-match bets and a paradise for live punters. It’s this drama that cements its status as the home of all domestic cup finals. From the National League playoff finals to the FA Cup and League Cup finals.
One downside to Wembley hosting all England fixtures is that fans not in London miss out on seeing England play in grounds around the country. Interestingly, the England women's team also plays at other venues. However, in 2025, England will once again leave Wembley for one game, with a Coldplay gig at Wembley happening on the same night as England's fixture with Andorra.
The stadium holds 90,000 under a non-retractable roof, making it the biggest of its category. Wembley has also hosted a couple of UEFA Champions League finals and the UEFA Euro 2020 final, in which Italy beat hosts England. Wembley is among the selected venues for Euro 2028.
5. Lusail Stadium
- Location: Lusail, Qatar
- Opened: 2021
- Seating Capacity: 88,966
- Construction Cost: Unknown
The second-largest football stadium used in recent times, the 2022 World Cup host stadium will soon have its capacity reduced from 88,966 to 40,000 with the tournament completed.
The Lusail Stadium hosted the 2022 World Cup final, six group stage games, and a fixture in each of the Round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals.
The construction of the ground came under scrutiny with investigations from several media outlets that alleged thousands of migrant workers had died during the construction of World Cup venues in Qatar.
4. New Administrative Capital Stadium
- Location: New Administrative Capital, Egypt
- Opened: 2019
- Seating Capacity: 93,940
- Construction Cost: £40bn (total cost of sports complex – exact stadium cost unknown)
Expected to replace the Cairo International Stadium (75,000) as Egypt’s national football stadium, the New Administrative Capital Stadium has been designed by Italian architects SHESA Architects and MJW Structures. These companies were also responsible for Turin’s Juventus Stadium and Cameroon’s Paul Biya Stadium.
While the name might be uninspiring for some, the design is impressive and is based on the headdress of the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti. A capacity of 93,940 notwithstanding, it is now one of the biggest football stadiums in the world.
The stadium will sit at the heart of a larger sports complex with a training ground, indoor halls and an Olympic swimming pool. The construction of this ground is part of Egypt’s 2030 World Cup bid and the 2036 Olympic Games.
3. FNB Stadium
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Opened: 1989
- Seating Capacity: 94,736
- Construction Cost: $440 million
The FNB Stadium is the largest of its kind in Africa and it primarily hosts rugby union and football matches. It can be quite an intimidating place, given its size. The ground has been utilised for various purposes in the past, but it is best known for hosting the World Cup 2010 final match between Netherlands and Spain.
The FNB Stadium is also the home ground for the South African national team, and it hosts the home games of domestic outfit Kaizer Chiefs.
The stadium is also quite special because it featured Nelson Mandela's last public appearance. Even though the stadium has been around since 1987, the major renovation work in 2010 for the World Cup brought about many new features, like executive suites, a new roof, floodlights, and changing rooms.
Apart from hosting the World Cup games, the FNB Stadium has also excelled at hosting the Africa Cup of Nations games.
Coming in at number three, it’s already quite clear that the FNB Stadium is one of the best there is among the biggest football stadiums in the world, but the sheer size and aesthetics aren’t the star of the show, in our opinion. When you look back at games played here for the 2010 World Cup, the atmosphere was just incredible, with the now-infamous vuvuzelas echoing all over the stadium.
2. Camp Nou
- Location: Barcelona, Spain
- Opened: 1957
- Seating Capacity: 99,354
- Construction Cost: €1.73 billion
A view of Camp Nou stadium – photo by Icon Sport[/caption]
Camp Nou hosts FC Barcelona and is distinguished as one of the biggest football stadiums in the world. It is easily the largest in Spain, with a capacity of almost 100,000.
This is an impressive feat for an all-seater stadium. Over the years, the ground has hosted every conceivable major tournament or game. It has hosted games at the World Cup and Euros, the UEFA Champions League finals, and the Summer Olympics, which the city of Barcelona hosted in 1992.
The iconic ground, which has never had a roof, allowing for a magnificent vista over the city as a whole, is undergoing major renovations currently. That leaves FC Barcelona playing elsewhere. Camp Nou will have a roof and an even larger capacity when the renovations are complete.
1. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
- Location: Pyongyang, North Korea
- Opened: 1989
- Seating Capacity: 114,000
- Construction Cost: Unknown
At the top of the biggest football stadiums in the world is the mysterious Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea. The venue covers an area of almost 21 hectares. It is the home ground of the North Korean national football team and also hosts many other events.
Opened in 1989, little is known about the true details of this ground. It has a stunning roof with 16 concrete arches evocating a parachute, though they were designed to resemble a lotus blossom, and an enormous capacity of at least 115,000. There is some suggestion that this could be an underestimation of how many supporters can fit in.
It's also pretty incredible that the biggest stadium in the world was built as a petty response to neighbours South Korea constructing the Seoul Olympic Stadium. North Korea wanted to make a statement, and they did. How much it cost them isn't known.
The ground is situated on Rungra Island, stands eight stories high and covers 207,000 square metres. Its name is derived from its opening date: May Day 1989.
Fun facts about the biggest stadium in the world
More than £5 billion in construction costs
When you adjust the listed prices for inflation, our list of the top 20 biggest football stadiums in the world will result in a rather head-spinning price tag of £5 billion-plus, perhaps more. While the costs alone are staggering, imagine the man-hours needed to build such stadiums, too.
Capacities used to be much larger
Our younger readers won’t be overly familiar with this. Believe it or not, the biggest football stadiums in the world used to host many more spectators than they do now, as safety measures were introduced to restrict standing viewing following several disasters. Quite a few of them had capacities greater than 100,000 before these changes were introduced.
Wembley is best if you need a bathroom
Of all the interesting facts we could come up with about the biggest football stadiums in the world, Wembley is rather intriguing. If you’ve been to a football game before, you’ll likely know the ‘bathroom rush’ at half-time, and many people have struggled with this in the past. However, at Wembley, this ground has the most toilets of any other building in the world – perfect to avoid the half-time rush.
Rungrado Stadium could have a capacity greater than 150,000
The strange thing about this one is that while we’ve listed the capacity at 114,000, nobody truly knows the exact figures! North Korea is notorious for secrecy, and unless you’ve been to watch a game here, you wouldn’t know how things look on the inside or how the seating arrangements are.
Other huge stadiums which have hosted football
While the above 20 stadiums regularly host football matches, others occasionally host ‘soccer' games but were not built or designed for that purpose. These include:
The Rose Bowl
- Location: Pasadena, United States
- Opened: 1922
- Seating Capacity: 95,542
- Construction cost: $272,198; ($4.95 million in 2023)
It is not a secret that Americans are fans of big stadiums, and it is easy to come across behemoths in college football and NFL competitions.
Despite opening in the 1920s, the stadium started becoming a landmark in the world of football when it hosted the World Cup games in 1994. Since then, many clubs have used this ground as their host, with the LA Galaxy being the most prominent tenant in recent years.
One common trait that the Rose Bowl shares with some of the biggest football stadiums in the world and many others in the United States is its lack of a roof, which contributed to an immense view when Brazil and Italy played each other in the World Cup 1994 final.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Location: East Melbourne, Australia
- Opened: 1853
- Seating Capacity: 100,024
- Construction Cost: $150 million in 1992 and $460 million in 2006
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the most iconic sporting destinations and is ranked highly among the biggest football stadiums in the world. As the name suggests, it is mainly a cricket ground but often hosts exhibition football matches and some World Cup qualifiers.
Since the MCG has existed for a long time, constant renovation work has been conducted to keep it in tune with modern demands. The last major renovation took place in 2006, and it cost a sum of money that many new stadiums would baulk at.
What are the largest stadiums in the world? (not just football)
Now, if we look beyond football, here is another list of other stadiums worldwide. Note that some of these are multi-purpose venues.
- Narendra Modi Stadium – 132,000
- Rungrado 1st of May Stadium – 114,000
- Michigan Stadium – 107,601
- Beaver Park – 106,572
- Kyle Field – 102,733
- Ohio Stadium – 102,780
- Tiger Stadium – 102,321
- Neyland Stadium – 101,915
- Darrel K Royal Memorial Stadium – 100,119
- Bryant-Denny Stadium – 100,077
- Melbourne Cricket Ground – 100,024
- Camp Nou – 99,354
- FNB Stadium – 94,736
- New Administrative Capital Stadium – 93,940
- Sanford Stadium – 92,746
- Lusail Stadium – 92,349
- Cotton Bowl – 92,100
- Rose Bowl – 90,888
- Wembley Stadium – 90,000
- Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – 88,548
- Jordan-Hare Stadium – 88,043
- Estadio Azteca – 87,525
- Bukit Jalil National Stadium – 87,411
- Memorial Stadium – 86,047
- Borg El-Arab Stadium – 86,000
- Stadium Australia – 83,500
- Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti – 83,198
- Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – 83,186
- MetLife Stadium – 82,500
- Croke Park – 82,300
- Jakarta International Stadium – 82,000
- Twickenham Stadium – 82,000
- Memorial Stadium – 81,500
- Lambeau Field – 81,441
- Signal Iduna Park – 81,365
- Stade de France – 81,338
- Luzhniki Stadium – 81,000
- Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium – 80,800
- Shah Alam Stadium – 80,372
- Camp Randall Stadium – 80,321
The biggest stadiums in the USA
Apart from the Major League Soccer, which has seen some breathtaking stadium developments in the USA, co-hosting the 2026 World Cup means we should expect even more major stadium development in the country, including renovation of some existing grounds.
With that, here are the current biggest stadiums in the USA.
The Rose Bowl
A capacity of 92,542 makes the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, the biggest in MLS and the USA. The stadium was opened in 1922 and is a historical landmark in the country. The construction cost of the stadium is an estimated $272 million.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The second biggest football stadium in the USA currently is the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It boasts a capacity of 71,000 and is a new venue opened in 2017. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is popular for its unique design and state-of-the-art facilities. The venue that replaced the Georgia Dome is the home ground for MLS side Atlanta United F.C.
The construction of Mercedes-Benz started in May 2014, lasting three years at an estimated cost of $1.99 billion. That means Mercedes-Benz is one of the most expensive football venues in the world today.
Gillette Stadium
Next on our list of the biggest football stadiums in the USA is the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. A capacity of 68,756 makes it the third-biggest soccer venue in the country.
Gillette Stadium was opened in 2002, following a two-year construction period for $325 million. It is home ground to the New England Revolution.
Levi's Stadium
Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, is another huge venue for soccer in the USA. While this ground is not a home ground to any MLS team, it has hosted some high-profile matches in the division as well as several NFL fixtures.
Levi's Stadium was opened in 2014 after two years of construction at an estimated cost of $1.3 billion, so it ranks highly among the most expensive football stadiums in the world. The ground's capacity is 68.500.
Lumen Field
CenturyLink Field is the current home ground for the Seattle Sounders and the fifth-biggest football stadium in the USA. The football ground has a capacity of 67,000 and boasts a rich history of hosting some of the biggest sporting events in the USA. After more than four years of construction at an estimated cost of $430 million, Lumen Stadium was opened in July 2002.
Soldier Field
Soldier Field in Illinois is the home stadium of the MLS team, Chicago Fire, and is one of the largest stadiums in the United States. It also serves as the home field for the NFL team, the Chicago Bears. It is common for stadiums in the U.S. to host both soccer and NFL games, which often results in variations in capacity depending on the sport.
As of 2015, Soldier Field was valued at $1.08 billion, which includes both the original construction cost of $13 million and subsequent renovation expenses. The stadium originally had a maximum capacity of 66,944, but this has been reduced over the years to 62,500.
In 1994, Soldier Field was one of the venues that hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup, with the stadium holding five matches in total. The highest attendance during the 1994 FIFA World Cup at Soldier Field was recorded when Germany played against Bolivia, with the Bavarians winning 1-0 in front of 63,117 spectators.
Other significant football events held at Soldier Field include the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, during which four matches were staged at the venue. Additionally, the stadium hosted CONCACAF Gold Cup matches in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
Notable missing grounds
There are some iconic football stadiums known for their size that you think might be missing from this list of the biggest football stadiums in the world. Well, here's what you need to know.
San Siro is the 43rd biggest sporting stadium in the world. The home of Inter Milan and AC Milan holds 80,018, meaning it sits just behind those listed above. The venue is Giuseppe Mezza because he played for both teams currently using San Siro as their home stadium. Most importantly, it is the largest stadium in Italy.
The AT&T Stadium, a potential host of the 2026 World Cup final, is ranked 45th on the list. The stadium has a retractable roof and currently serves as the home ground for the NFL side, the Dallas Cowboys.
Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana Stadium is the 51st-biggest.
Old Trafford is the 63rd-biggest stadium in the world. With a now-reduced capacity of around 73,000, the home of Manchester United is in need of renovation.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena is the world's 64th-biggest stadium.
After reading our article on the biggest football stadiums in the world, don't hesitate to look at our other articles, such as this one on the best football prediction site in the world.
Fun facts about the biggest stadium in the world
From the most attended football matches on the planet to exciting upcoming stadium projects, we explore some fun facts about the biggest stadiums in the world below.
- The Hassan II Stadium, located in the Casablanca-Settat region of Morocco, is expected to be one of the largest stadiums in the world once completed. With a capacity of 115,000 seats, it will rival the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, for the title of the largest stadium. The Hassan II Stadium is poised to become a masterpiece of stadium architecture, noting that Populous, a global architectural firm, has collaborated with Oualou + Choi to bring this ambitious project to life.
- King Salman International Stadium is an upcoming venue currently under construction in Saudi Arabia. It is specifically being built to host the 2034 World Cup and is expected to be completed by 2029. The stadium will serve as the headquarters for the national football team and is set to become one of the largest football stadiums in the world, with a seating capacity of 92,000.
- Flamenga F.C. has acquired land for their future stadium, which will have a capacity of 80,000. The club recently released artistic renderings of the proposed New Flamengo Stadium, which is set to become one of the largest football venues in the world. Construction of the new stadium is expected to be completed by 2029.
All-seater vs non-all-seater football stadiums
A debate about all-seater vs non-all-seater stadiums has been ongoing for decades. And with the Premier League slowly reintroducing standing zones, it becomes even more important to exemplify this topic.
From a definitive standpoint, an all-seater stadium is one in which all spectators are provided with a seat, and there is no standing room in such venues. With that in mind, let's quickly mention that Rungrado 1st of May, the biggest football stadium in the world, is an all-seater venue.
On the other hand, a non-all-seater stadium allows room for standing, in which case, we mention safe standing zones as a perfect example of such venues. In the UK, standing areas in football stadiums are known as terraces. However, safety concerns premised on previous disasters have forced most top-flight leagues to emphasise all-seater stadiums.
Interestingly, non-all-seater stadiums tend to give spectators a better view of the action on the pitch than the experience you get on all-seater venues.
Future large stadiums in development
The world will never be short of new stadiums under construction, especially those ranked highly among the biggest stadiums ever built. That begs the question: Which are some of the large stadiums in the world currently under construction?
In this section, we explore further by looking at venues that are set to become some of the biggest in the world, considering new constructions and stadiums undergoing redevelopment to expand their seating capacities.
Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium in London, England will become one of the biggest stadiums in the world. Arsenal is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan that will see the venue get a facelift, including at least 33% seating expansion. That will see the Arsenal home stadium have close to 80,000 seats, automatically becoming the biggest ground in the Premier League and undoubtedly one of the largest venues globally.
According to UK news sources, the cost of expanding Emirates will run into millions of pounds. The stadium's initial construction cost was £390 million, which makes it one of the most expensive UK stadiums.
King Salman International Stadium
Once completed, King Salman International Stadium will be one of the biggest football grounds in the world, with a capacity of 92.760. The venue, which is named after Saudi King, is expected to be completed by 2029 in readiness for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. It will also become the official home ground for the Saudi Arabia national team.
King Salman International Stadium is being constructed for 4 billion Saudi riyals.
Nou Mestalla
Nou Mestalla is on course to an architectural marvel, with construction works set to resume before the end of January 2025. With Spain set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World, expectations are high that the new Valencia home ground will be ready to host the world championship.
With a seating capacity of 70,000, it will not only become one of the largest grounds in Spain but also rank highly among the most expensive and biggest football stadiums in the world. The latest evaluation of Nou Mestalla's construction costs indicates that it will require more than €300 million to complete.
Guangzhou Football Park
China's infrastructural excellence is once again taking centre stage in the construction of Guangzhou Football Park. Hasan Syed, an American architect based in China, is contracted at the site.
Guangzhou Football Park, #China
The stadium, still under construction, was redesigned by Guangdong Architectural Design and Research Institute, which saw the loss of the lotus design and a reduction in capacity from 100,000 to 74,707.#GuangzhouFootballPark #HasanSyed #CampNou pic.twitter.com/9MumlJga66
— Beholder's EYE! (@OculisGaze) November 23, 2024
The catch with Guangzhou Football Park, located in the Panyu district of Guangzhou, China, is that its capacity of 74,707 will make it one of the biggest stadiums in the world. Most importantly, the $1.7 billion needed to complete it means the new football stadium in China will become one of the most expensive venues in the world.
The completion date for China's second-largest football stadium is set for the end of 2025.