10 most iconic football stadiums

For most of the footballers, it is their love for the game that keeps on pushing them to their limits. Its the love of the game that drives them. But all of them do wish to play on some or the other ground for their own reasons. But there are some stadiums which stand apart from the rest. They are iconic in their own way.Here is a list presenting 10 of the most iconic football stadiums in the world.

#1 Estadio do Maracana

This stadium deserves a mention because of the sheer fact that in the 1950 World Cup Final, it recorded an attendance of 199,854, making it the stadium with the highest capacity when it was opened.

Although this stadium is now being rebuilt for the upcoming World Cup, this stadium can now hold a total of 78,838 spectators, making it the largest stadium in South America. Currently it is not the home of any club but it does hosts matches between the major football clubs in Rio de Janeiro. This will perhaps be the most sought-after venue in the World Cup.

This stadium hosted a match between the home nation and Uruguay, which was considered as one of the most dramatic matches in the competition. The 1950 group winner was decided by a final group match with the final four teams playing in a round robin format. Brazil was one point ahead going into the match and just needed to avoid defeat in order to be crowned champion while Uruguay had to win at any cost.

Brazil took the lead early in the second half only to see it get equalised shortly. Uruguay scored the winning goal just 11 minutes before the end through Alcides Ghiggia. This is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in the game.

#2 Westfalenstadion (Signal Iduna Park)

For those who have been following Borussia Dortmund, they know exactly what I am talking about. There is no denying the fact that playing at this ground is a challenge in itself. Dortmund has perhaps the most loyal legion of fans and when 80,720 fans dressed in Black and Yellow sing at the top of their voice, this becomes one of the toughest stadiums to play at. It is Germany’s biggest stadium and stands 7th in Europe in terms of capacity.

When the stadium opened in 1974, it stood out from the rest of the football grounds because of its rectangular shape as most of the football stadiums were built in a bowl-like way. And this served as an inspiration for stadiums constructed henceforth. The stadium was one of the playing venues in the 2006 World Cup where it had the privilege to host the Germany-Italy Semifinal.

#3 La Bombonera

Home to one of South America’s most successful clubs, La Bombonera is located in the city of Buenos Aries. South Americans are passionate about their football and the Boca Junior fans are no less. Although it has a comparatively modest capacity, its unusual shape (due to which it is called the ‘Chocolate Box’) causes it to have excellent acoustics which leads to a fearsome atmosphere.

Boca Juniors almost moved to new 140,000 capacity stadium in 1970s before the construction was stopped due to political clashes. Boca Juniors had already played here in 1924 when it was just a wooden stadium. But it was renovated when Boca bought the land in 1931 and it officially opened in 1941 with a friendly between Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo.

#4 San Siro

When you are the home to two of the most successful clubs in the world, you better be amongst the best stadiums in the world. And San Siro is exactly that. One of those stadiums which goes as far as the eye can see, it is the home to both AC Milan and Inter Milan.

With both set of fans regularly filling up to its maximum capacity, both the teams enjoy a one of its kind support. The fans have been termed as the most creative when it comes to different ways of showing their support to the club. 80,000 fans jumping in sync provides an electric atmosphere.

The plan to build the stadium was given by a former president of the club Pierro Pirelli. As we know that both the Milan clubs play at this very ground, it was only in 1945 that Inter Milan started playing here. San Siro was first owned by AC Milan but were soon forced to sell it to the city of Milan who had to renovate the stadium due to its growing popularity.

#5 Old Trafford

Even though the fans have been termed as ‘Plastic’, there is no denying the fact that Old Trafford shall always remain one of the Premier football grounds in the world. What makes this ground so special is the history that is associated with the club. Having been re-developed with all the modern amenities, the Manchester United home holds over more than 75000 fans and that explains the spectacular home record that it has had over the last few years (Barring of course, this season).

The stadium officially opened on 19th February 1910 with a friendly between United and Liverpool. That time it had a capacity of well over 80,000. But during World War 2, the ground was heavily damaged due to German air raids.

The club then had to play at Maine Road, the stadium of their cross-town rivals Manchester City. United then moved back to the renovated Old Trafford in 1949 which had a much smaller capacity. Only once Old Trafford has held a European final and that was in 2003 between Juventus and Milan.

#6 Estadio Azteca

The fact that it is the only ground to have hosted two World Cup Finals and the fact that it can hold over more than 100,000 people causes Estadio Azteca to be on the wish-list of all the football fanatics. Over the years, it has held a number of memorable international matches including the 1986 quarter-final match between Argentina and England which saw Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand-Of-God’ goal.

The stadium officially opened in 1966 and in the 1970 World Cup, it hosted 10 matches which included a semi-final and the final between Brazil and Italy which Brazil won 4-1.

#7 Anfield

When City played Liverpool last week at Anfield, the whole world saw what the ground was capable of. And what surprises most is that it can only contain 45000 spectators. Anfield has been the crux of Liverpool. You talk of Liverpool, you talk of Anfield, and you talk of a great Legacy. Liverpool has been blessed with the most loyal club fans in England and they do show their loyalty day-in and day-out making it the toughest stadium to play in England.

Anfield was built in 1884 but was originally rented to Everton FC who played the first match ever on Anfield. In 1891 Everton moved out due to some disputes over rent and one year later, Liverpool started renting the ground. Developments has been in bits and pieces which explains it low seating capacity. Liverpool contemplated a move to build a new 60,000 capacity stadium in nearby Stanley Park but the plans have now been stopped. In fact, the ownership is now trying to develop Anfield so as to increase its capacity.

#8 Camp Nou

With the capacity to hold nearly 100,000 passionate fans, this stadium is the largest in Europe. Housing one of the best teams in the world, defeating Barcelona at Camp Nou has always been the dream. With tiers of rows stacked up, the Camp Nou engulfs and overpowers you. One of the must see places if you are on a football pilgrimage.

In 1989, Camp Nou had the privilege to host the European Cup final between AC Milan and FC Steau and then 10 years from that, it hosted the Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich which is considered to be one of the most dramatic finals of all time.

#9 Santiago Bernabeu

Standing tall in the midst of Madrid, this ground has been a witness to the most talked about team in Europe. Home to the Galacticos, the stadium can hold nearly 85000 spectators. Although this is less when compared to the Camp-Nou, Bernabeu has a class of its own.

The journey through the stadium is a journey through its history. All the money that has been flowing in has been rightly invested in the development of this ground making it one of the most beautiful grounds in world Football.

The Bernabeu was hosting the 1964 Euro Championship along with the Camp Nou, hosting one of the two semi-final and the final between Soviet Union and Spain which Spain won 2-1. It also held the 1986 World Cup final between Italy and West Germany.

The stadium has had the privilege of hosting four European Cup and Champions League finals. The first final was in 1957 between Real Madrid and Fiorentina (2-0), the second in 1969 between AC Milan and Ajax (4-1), the third in 1980 between Nottingham Forest and Hamburg (1-0), and the last one in 2010 between Internazionale and Bayern Munich (2-0).

#10 Wembley

“Oh Wembley! You beauty.” have been the words of various commentators and football fans. Built in 2007 on the grounds of the Old Wembley, this ground can hold around 90,000 spectators. There is something extraordinary about this ground which makes playing on it even more special. Home to the English National squad, Wembley has been the dream destination for all football fans.

The stadium has a sliding roof that sits 52 metres above the pitch. Even though the roof does not completely close, it does cover every seat in the stadium, which makes Wembley the largest fully covered stadium in the world. The stadium hosted the 2011 Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United (3-1) and also held the 2013 final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to mark the 150th anniversary of FA.