Whether you’re a football fan or not, you can’t deny that football stadiums are seriously impressive structures. Europe has some stunning architecture and iconic stadiums that are well worth a visit. Whether you want to catch a match or simply include them in your next holiday, here are some of the best in the world:
Madrid – Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
This iconic Spanish landmark has hosted a World Cup final, four Champions League finals and is also the home to Real Madrid. Over one thousand matches have been played there, being viewed by thousands of dedicated home fans who turn up for every game. The grounds represent huge passion and you could see some of the best players in the world take to the pitch, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Barcelona – Camp Nou
This is the biggest stadium in Europe and home to the legends that are FC Barcelona. The stadium hosted the Champions League final in 1999 that saw Manchester United beat Bayern Munich 2-1. The Camp Nou has also hosted rugby matches and set world records when 99,124 people watched the final of the Rugby Top 14 there. You could catch a glimpse of the best football player in the world, Lionel Messi.
Liverpool – Anfield Stadium
An older stadium built in the late 1800s and home to Liverpool FC. Visit the home of the iconic ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ode to the club, written on the tunnel at the entrance to the pitch. It’s quite small, with only a capacity for 54,000 spectators and yet plans for a bigger stadium were shelved, such is the love of Liverpudlians for their home stadium. Sharpen up your own skills with Soccer Drill Videos from https://www.sportplan.net/drills/Soccer/drills.jsp
Milan – Stadio Giuseppe Meazza – San Siro
A visit to Milan must include a trip to the San Siro. This is the biggest stadium in Italy with 80,000 seats and has hosted four Champions League finals and a quarter final of the 1990 World Cup. Both AC and Inter Milan play here and there’s an electric atmosphere during games.
Paris – Stade de France
This stadium became well-known globally following the 1998 World Cup which saw France crowned as champions. It is a huge, towering and impressive piece of architecture that was inspired by the Colosseum in Rome when architects began designing it. It’s grandeur, ease of accessibility and different galleries make it a suitable venue for a wide variety of events and it’s a joy to visit.
Mexico City – Estadio Azteca
Outside of Europe, you’ll want to visit the Estadio Azteca as it’s the first stadium in the world to have hosted two World Cup finals. Both Pele and Maradona have played here, so if you’re into football, this is a must-see stadium in Mexico. The 1968 Olympic Games were also hosted here, and other events occur regularly, including concerts by the likes of U2, Elton John and Lenny Kravitz.
Rio de Janeiro – The Maracana Stadium
No list of must-visit stadia would be complete with mentioning Brazil’s legendary Maracana stadium. It boasts being the largest in the world, having been built for the 1950 World Cup. Some of the biggest sporting events in the world have been held here, including the 2016 Olympics. If you’re ever in Rio, you must visit the national stadium where Neymar scored the winning goal in the Olympic football tournament and was the pride of Brazil.
