The Biggest European Football Stadiums, between past and future

The biggest European football stadiums are silent giants until they are filled with the enthusiasm of tens of thousands of people. Complex and grandiose infrastructures at the service of pleasure, passion, and collective sharing. Meeting places where the ancient and fascinating ritual of high-level sports competition is renewed, and where the world’s best athletes compete in a modern Colosseum to claim victory. Football stadiums in Europe are all this: icons of football—of course—but also of music and entertainment, remembered for timeless events like the Queen concert at Wembley and admired for their architectural beauty and their ability to accelerate urban development in major cities.

The ten biggest European football stadiums are also symbols of the cities that host them. Icons of the past that, instead of being consigned to the history books of architecture, are often the subject of redevelopment projects that adapt them to modernity without losing the charm and beauty inscribed in their image and history.

Barcelona: Camp Nou and Those 100,000 Spectators Awaiting the New Stadium

Camp Nou in Barcelona is the largest stadium in Europe in terms of spectator capacity: 99,354 in total. An enormous structure dominating the Les Corts district of the Catalan capital, it has hosted FC Barcelona’s home games since 1957. For Spain, and also for Europe, it is a true monument, visited by thousands of tourists and periodically subjected to restoration work. The latest renovation, partially financed by music streaming giant Spotify, is currently underway. The works are aimed at building a new Camp Nou on the ruins of the old one, without changing its site or destroying the historic structure, but rather demolishing some tiers and reconstructing them in a modern key. It’s an expensive intervention plan, with an investment of around one billion euros, that will bring a football icon into the modern era, with seats closer to the pitch which will allow for an even better view of the matches.

Wembley: Those 90,000 at Freddie Mercury’s Feet

On July 12, 1986, a day that marked music history, Queen delivered one of the greatest performances of all time with a massive celebration at Wembley Stadium, the historic London venue and the second largest in Europe with 90,000 seats. Also known as the home of the England national football team, it was rebuilt in 2007 by Studio Populous and Foster + Partner. After demolishing the old structure, the new Wembley Stadium was born on the same site, retaining the size of its predecessor while boasting a new architectural design, with its roof supported by a spectacular 135-meter-high arch.

Santiago Bernabeu: The Stadium of the King of Spain

For many, it is the King of Spain’s stadium, and it is no coincidence that it hosts the matches of Real Madrid, the most representative football team in Spain. In terms of capacity, it is the third-largest in Europe, and with its 84,744 seats, it represents a grand yet modern structure. The Santiago Bernabeu has been the subject of an extensive redevelopment plan that modernized its structure and created a new playing field unique in the world because it is mobile. The renovation of the Bernabeu was a grand project that allowed the renewal of a football icon without destroying it. Added to this is the development of the hospitality area, with shops, restaurants and bars, which offers spectators the opportunity to transform the match into a moment of sharing and meeting.

Croke Park: The Record-Breaking Stadium for Athletics

Croke Park in Dublin, despite having a capacity of 82,300 spectators, was not originally intended for football matches. The large structure is used by the Gaelic Athletic Association and hosts athletics competitions as well as Gaelic football finals, perhaps the most beloved sport in Ireland. Its history goes back a long way: the stadium was inaugurated in 1884, and in its 150-year history, it has been repeatedly modernized to increase its capacity without ever abandoning the original structure.

Twickenham: The Largest Rugby Stadium in the World

For England, rugby is part of the most ancient sporting traditions. It is no surprise, then, that one of the largest stadiums in the country, and the fifth-largest in Europe, is dedicated to rugby. Twickenham Stadium in London can host 82,000 spectators, making it the largest rugby stadium in the world and a historic asset for the English capital and rugby fans worldwide.

Stade de France: The 1998 World Cup Stadium

All French people love it, if only for the magical night of 1998 when the French national team lifted the World Cup at home, in front of its audience. The Stade de France, Paris’s grand stadium with 81,338 seats, is also a point of reference for the entire country. The stadium hosts France’s main sporting and cultural events, including football matches, rugby games, and many concerts.
Furthermore, the Stade de France was the stage for major competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, confirming itself as France’s most prestigious sports venue.

Luzhniki: The Giant of Moscow

The history of Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow proves that a great structure from the past can be modernized multiple times to keep up with the times. Russia’s largest stadium, with its 81,000 seats, has undergone many seasons of repeated redevelopment, leading to its current form. One of the most significant renovations occurred in 2013 when the athletics track was removed, and the stands were moved closer to enhance football viewing in preparation for the 2018 World Cup hosted by Russia.

Westfalen: Dortmund’s Yellow Wall

Its curve is called the Yellow Wall, a testament to the powerful impact of the thousands of Borussia Dortmund fans crowded together, dressed in yellow shirts and scarves. The overall view of the Westfalen Stadium is impressive, offering a compact structure very close to the pitch while still accommodating 80,588 people. In 2009, the Times included it among the most beautiful stadiums in the world, also thanks to the extraordinary participation of its fans. The latest record was set during the 2011-2012 season when the stadium hosted an average of 80,588 spectators per game throughout the season.

San Siro: The Scala of Football

Everyone calls it the Scala of football because of its proximity to Milan’s prestigious Opera House. San Siro Stadium, with its 80,018 seats, is the ninth-largest stadium in Europe and one of the most famous and loved worldwide. Inaugurated in 1926, it has been renovated several times, reaching its current form with work done for the 1990 World Cup.

Old Trafford: The Cradle of Football in Manchester

Old Trafford is undoubtedly an iconic stadium, the place where Cristiano Ronaldo took his first steps as a professional and where Manchester United has written the history of this sport. With its 75,635 seats, it is the tenth-largest stadium in Europe, an icon of football history inaugurated over a century ago, on February 19, 1910. Since then, many renovations have been carried out, the latest in 2006, giving the structure its current form and making Old Trafford one of the most modern stadiums in the world, earning it a 5-star rating from UEFA, the highest recognition given to football stadiums based on their capacity and modernity. Old Trafford is also a modern stadium, as it was designed to transform watching the match into a broader experience, with meeting places, services and commercial areas. A different way of experiencing football which has now become a characteristic of the most modern times of sport.