The history of football is replete with massive infrastructural developments that have changed the fortunes of many countries. Football stadiums are part of that story. These megastructures have changed fans' view of the beautiful game.
Today, expensive stadiums are believed to bring good fortune to clubs that dare to dream big. Santiago Bernabeu, with its iconic retractable roof, is not only a hallmark of prestige but also one of the most expensive stadiums in the world.
In England, Everton's new stadium is another perfect example of what money can do. Manchester United are also planning to invest at least £2 billion in what has been dubbed ‘Wembley of the North‘.
The above examples culminate in a never-ending debate: Which is the most expensive stadium in history? Keep reading to discover more.
Top ten most expensive stadiums in the world
The most expensive stadiums in the world are large structures that come in different sizes and designs. In many cases, the cost of construction is hundreds of millions of dollars, and some even exceed a billion dollars.
The following are the most expensive stadiums in the world, arranged in ascending order.
London Stadium: £486 million
London Stadium was purpose-built for the 2012 Olympics. The stadium cost £486 million to build, which is approximately £679 million when adjusted for today’s inflation.
Although the stadium was constructed for this massive sporting event, it is now home to West Ham United, with a capacity of up to 60,000.
West Ham would not be the only club using the stadium after the Olympics, as Tottenham Hotspur also sought to claim it for themselves.
Allianz Arena: £500 million
While the initial cost of this statement wouldn’t specifically place it on our list of the most expensive stadiums, the unplanned costs passed onto the state were enough to push the Allianz Arena into this category.
Adjusted for inflation, the costs for the build and the necessary changes to the surrounding area surpassed £500 million. However, a stadium that will host a team like FC Bayern Munich requires this kind of investment. At full capacity, this arena can host over 75,000 fans, too!
Santiago Bernabeu: £500 million
Believe it or not, the Santiago Bernabeu wasn’t the most expensive stadium in the world by a long stretch when it was initially built. However, the size certainly was one of the most impressive aspects of the stadium, but the sheer size is not a shadow on the more recent changes surrounding the club.
Recently, Santiago Bernabeu was rumoured to have cost investors more than £500 million in renovations. While the capacity remained the same, the installation of a retractable roof increased the stadium's height.
It is the home ground for Real Madrid, arguably the richest club in Europe. Santiago Bernabeu remains iconic in world football, so there is more to come here to thrill soccer fans. We also expect structural adjustments to the venue as clubs in Europe continuously upgrade their stadiums to accommodate more fans.
Estadio Nacional: £600 million
For our fourth ground in the list of most expensive stadiums in the world, we head to South America – Brazil. Estadio Nacional sits at the heart of Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, and it is the second-biggest stadium in Brazil.
Achieving this feat required significant financial backing, with a final construction cost of around £600 million in 1974. The stadium has undergone major renovations since then.
Hill Dickinson Stadium: £750 million
Everton moved into their new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock at the beginning of the 2025/26 season, and based on how well received it has been, the stadium was well worth the money the club spent on it.
Located on the docks in Liverpool, the stadium has one of the finest backdrops in English football. It is primarily a football stadium, a rarity in the modern game.
While concerts are expected to be held here, the design has clearly taken matchday experience very seriously.
The capacity of the new stadium is just shy of 53,000, but the acoustics inside make it feel like there are nearly double that number in there at any given time.
Gazprom Arena: £850 million
Built specifically for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Gazprom Arena, also known as Kretovsky Stadium, is Russia's most expensive football pitch.
The stadium hosted several group-stage matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, including semi-final and third-place playoff matches. It currently has a capacity of 60,000 (expandable), making it one of the largest stadiums in the world.
Like Santiago Bernabeu, Veltkins Arena or Deutsche Bank Park, Kretovsky Stadium has a retractable roof. This means it can host matches in different weather conditions.
The playing surface is equally retractable, ensuring the quality of the grass, especially during non-football events such as concerts.
The exterior of the Gazprom Arena has a spaceship outlook. With that, the stadium is a visual landmark in Saint Petersburg and is used by FC Zenit during Russian Premier League matches.
High-resolution video boards, advanced lighting and sound systems contribute to an incredible atmosphere often witnessed inside Kretovsky Stadium during events.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium: £1 billion
Despite football being much more popular in places like Europe, America is still a place where large investments are made into these kinds of structures.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the most expensive stadiums ever built, but football isn’t the main sport played here.
As you may have guessed, the main sport played at ‘The Benz’, as it is referred to, is American Football, with Atlanta United being a bit of an add-on. Although accurate public figures have never actually been released, the stadium is rumoured to have cost well over £1 billion.
Moreover, Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host some of the FIFA World Cup matches in 2026.
Singapore National Stadium: £1 billion
Finally, the Singapore National Stadium is another stadium that enters the £1 billion-plus category. Opened in 2014, the arena is one of the technologically advanced stadiums on the planet. It is fully dynamic.
The seats are movable. Additionally, the roof is fully retractable, and the dome exterior even has moving parts – does it get more futuristic than that?
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: £1 billion
Having opened only in 2019, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the newer additions to this list. It is not only an ultra-modern stadium, but also one of the most expensive football arenas.
When the project was finished, the final estimate came in at approximately £1 billion.
Additionally, the pitch is interchangeable to accommodate American Football games as well as Tottenham’s football games.
Wembley Stadium: £1 billion
If you are reading this from the UK, this stadium needs no introduction. Wembley Stadium is not just one of the most expensive stadiums in the UK, but also in Europe. With that, it makes it to this list of the top ten most expensive stadiums in the world.
Costing over £1 billion when it was built in 2007, Wembley is a 90,000-capacity venue. Moreover, Wembley hosts some of the biggest sporting events, especially in football. England national team matches are often staged at the venue.
Wembley is set to host some of the biggest football events in the 2024/25 season. Notably, the Three Lions will play most of their UEFA Nations League qualifier at Wembley this year.
Yankee Stadium: £1.5 billion
To answer the question that everybody thinks when they see the name ‘Yankee Stadium’, yes, this stadium hosts football and baseball games.
While the New York Yankees are the most famous team that plays here, New York FC also plays here, hence Yankee Stadium is categorised as a football stadium.
When discussing significant investments, it's worth noting that the total cost of this project exceeded £1.5 billion, an astonishing sum to invest in an arena.
This expense and the accompanying expansion came at a substantial cost to the public, as many residents were unhappy about the surrounding parks being consumed by the new facility. Nevertheless, Yankee Stadium remains among the ten most expensive stadiums.
