30 most famous football stadiums

16) Stade de France (Saint Denis, France)

Capacity: 81,338

Opened: 1998

Tennant(s): France National Team

The only stadium in the world to have hosted both a football World Cup final AND a rugby World Cup final highlights in itself the reliability for passion and an electrifying occasion offered by the Stade de France. Having also attracted stars such as Paul McCartney, U2 and Madonna since construction, it is most recently recognisable as the venue for Portugal’s first ever major tournament triumph when they beat hosts France 1-0 back in July.

Its roof alone cost €45 million but with this hefty price tag comes an important message; the elliptical structure is supposed to resemble the universitality of sport across the nation. The hidden surprises don’t stop there either; a retractable stand can also be moved aside to unveil an impressive atheltics track. Brilliant.

15) Ibrox (Glasgow, Scotland)

Capacity: 50,947

Opened: 1899

Tennant(s): Glasgow Rangers

Slap bang in the middle of the countdown is Scotland’s finest football stadium, for creating an atmosphere at least. Designed by the legendary Scot Archibald Leitch, a pioneer in football stadium construction, Ibrox now has a relatively simple layout after the disaster of 1971, in which 66 were crushed to death in the crowd, prompted the construction of three rectangular, all-seater stands. Such stands were based, at the time, on those found in Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalonstadion.

A pulsating Merseyside derby or El Classico may captivate and excite but nothing compares to the atmosphere cranked up by an Old Firm clash at Ibrox; a city splits in half and Scottish football hinges expectedly on its pinacle. Ibrox is the catalyst of this unrivalled passion and for that reason deserves its place on this list.