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A stadium is not just a place where a club plays their games, it's their home; a home that the fans dream to visit. A football stadium isn't considered iconic just because of its size or architecture but also due to the glories and the memories that it shares over the years.
'Home advantage', as they say in football is due to that feeling and the fan support the home team enjoys is not due to their ability to manipulate the look of their stadium, but due to those memories attached to it.
All successful teams have one thing in common, and that is consistency in front of their home supporters, in their very own stadium.
Even if you are not a football fan, you can visit these stadiums to see their architectural beauty and learn about the glorious past of the iconic moments these wonderful stadiums have enjoyed. All major clubs organize stadium tours and if you are visiting that particular city you must have these stadiums on your visiting list as they are certainly the pride of the city they are in.
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So let us look at the top 5 stadiums in the football world.
# 5 - San Siro
Location - San Siro District, Milan, Italy
Home of - AC Milan and Inter Milan
Founded - 1926
Capacity - 80,018
Home of two of the most successful clubs in the history Inter and AC Milan, the San Siro is the common name for Giuseppe Meazza. It is the largest stadium in Italy and one of the largest in the world.
It hosted 4 matches in the 1990 World Cup, 3 in the 1934 World Cup, 3 in the 1980 Euros and has also served as the venue for the final of the European Championships (and UCL) on four occasions: 1965, 1970,2001 and 2016.
Besides football, San Siro has often hosted concerts for various famous artists, such as Madona, Micheal Jackson, One Direction and Cold Play.
Fun Fact - In the 2003 European Cup Semi Final between AC Milan and Inter Milan, AC Milan went through to the final on the away goals rule, despite the fact that both matches were played on the same ground, The San Siro.
# 4 - Anfield
Location - Anfield, Liverpool, England
Home of - Liverpool F.C
Founded - 1882
Capacity - 54,074
The Anfield is the home of Liverpool F.C since their formation in 1882, It also served as the home for Everton F.C for a period between 1884 and 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park.
It is the sixth largest stadium in England, and one of the most iconic in the world thanks to the glorious past the Reds have enjoyed here.
The Anfield has also hosted many international matches for the England and Wales national football team.
Anfield had also hosted Rugby and Boxing games in the past.
Fun Fact - Anfield served as the home stadium of Liverpool's eternal rivals Manchester United for the first two home games of the 1971-72 season as the Red Devils were banned to play their matches at the Old Trafford.
# 3 - Camp Nou
Location - Barcelona, Spain
Home of - FC Barcelona
Founded - 1857
Capacity - 99,354
"New Camp" is the English translation of this iconic stadium which is the largest in Europe and the second largest football stadium in the world.
Serving as the home of FC Barcelona since its foundation in 1857, Camp Nou is certainly more than just a stadium similar to how Barcelona is more than just a club.
It also hosted 5 matches including the opening game in the 1982 world cup, It has hosted the Final of the European Championship (and UCL) on 2 occasions, 1989 and 1999. It also hosted the final of the football competition in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Fun Fact - After the ground’s first match, Barcelona went on a 13 game unbeaten run (11 wins and 2 draws). Their first loss didn’t come until the 2nd of February, 1958. It was Real Madrid who won for the first time (0-2) at the Camp Nou.
# 2 - Old Trafford
Location - Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England
Home of - Manchester United
Founded - 1910
Capacity - 76,994
Given the moniker of "The Theater of Dreams" by Sir Bobby Charlton, Old Trafford has served as United's home ground since its foundation in 1910. It is also just 0.5 miles from the away from the Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
It is the largest club football stadium in England (second largest overall, first being the Wembly) and has hosted various important matches including those at the 1986 World Cup, Euro 96 and the final of the 2003 Champion League.
It also hosted two football matches in the 2012 Olympics and apart from football it has hosted two finals of the Rugby League's World Cup as well as the Ruby League's annual Super League Grand Final.
Fun Fact - Old Trafford has a heater under the grass to melt any snow that may fall on the field during the game to stop players from having to play amidst a snow-laden football field.
# 1 - Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Location - Chamartín District, Madrid, Spain
Home of - Real Madrid
Founded - 1947
Capacity - 81,044
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, as they say in Spain, is the most famous and iconic football stadium in the world. Since its foundation in 1947, It has served as home to the club of the 20th Century, Real Madrid.
It is named after the Los Blancos' legendary President, Santiago Bernabéu, and is definitely one of the major reasons why Real Madrid stand on the top of the world when it comes to success.
Being such an iconic stadium, The Santiago Bernabéu has hosted various auspicious events including the finals of the 1964 European Nation's Cup and the 1982 World Cup, becoming the first stadium in the world to do so. It has also hosted the final of the European Cup (and Champions League) on four occasions: in 1957, 1969, 1980, and 2010.
The Santiago Bernabeu has also hosted numerous large concerts. Internationally renowned groups and artists such as The Rolling Stones, U2 and Bruce Springsteen have all sold out the arena.
Fun Fact - It was formerly known as Nuevo Chamartin, but on January 4th, 1955 a general assembly of members voted to change the name to Santiago Bernabeu in honour of the club president.
