Ranking of the Largest Stadiums in the World

The largest stadiums in the world, located around the globe, boast exceptional capacities and a variety of designs and styles. From Australia to the United States, from India to England, these massive venues host different sports such as American football, cricket, and the more widely known soccer, as well as various events like concerts from world-renowned artists such as Madonna, the Spice Girls, and Pink Floyd. Some stadiums are more famous than others for hosting historic finals of the World Cup, while others are known for remarkable goals scored in soccer history. For these reasons, visiting them and admiring their splendor is definitely worthwhile! Here is the ranking of the 20 largest stadiums in the world.

Stadium Name | Capacity | City, State | Pos.
Salt Lake Stadium | 85,000 | Kolkata, India | 20
Borg El Arab | 86,000 | Alexandria, Egypt | 19
Bukit Jalil National Stadium | 87,411 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 18
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium | 88,083 | Jakarta, Indonesia | 17
Wembley | 90,000 | London, England | 16
The Rose Bowl | 92,542 | Pasadena, California | 15
FNB Stadium | 94,736 | Johannesburg, South Africa | 14
Azadi Stadium | 95,225 | Tehran, Iran | 13
Estadio Azteca | 95,500 | Mexico City, Mexico | 12
Camp Nou | 99,354 | Barcelona, Spain | 11
Melbourne Cricket Ground | 100,024 | Melbourne, Australia | 10
Darrell K Royal, Texas Memorial Stadium | 100,199 | Austin, Texas | 9
Bryant-Denny Stadium | 101,821 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 8
Tiger Stadium | 102,321 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 7
Neyland Stadium | 102,455 | Knoxville, Tennessee | 6
Kyle Field | 102,733 | College Station, Texas | 5
Ohio Stadium | 104,944 | Columbus, Ohio | 4
Beaver Stadium | 106,572 | University Park, Pennsylvania | 3
Michigan Stadium | 107,601 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 2
Rungrado May Day Stadium | 150,000 | Pyongyang, South Korea | 1

20 - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata - 85,000

Also known as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), it is the largest stadium in all of India. It features an elliptical structure with three tiers and was built in 1984 to host not only soccer matches and track and field events but also concerts, ballet performances, and other sporting events involving both amateur and professional climbers (on the north side of the stadium). However, soccer is the most commonly played sport here, as the stadium hosts home matches for local Indian teams: Mohun Bagan A.C., Kingfisher East Bengal F.C., Prayag United S.C., and Mohammedan SC.

During derby matches, the atmosphere can become quite intense, with incredible anticipation, and at times, incidents of violence between fans have occurred. The most significant international soccer event was held in 2011 with the FIFA match between Argentina and Venezuela.

Year Built 1982
Home Teams Mohun Bagan A.C., Kingfisher East Bengal F.C., Prayag United S.C. and Mohammedan SC. (soccer)

19 - Borg El Arab, Alexandria - 86,000

A modern stadium recently built for the Under-20 World Cup in 2009, it is the largest stadium in all of Egypt. The Borg El Arab is home to the local team Al Ittihad; famous for hosting the inaugural match of the Under-20 World Cup, it was originally commissioned in 2006 with an ambitious international project aiming to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010, a plan that sadly fell through. So it was decided to use the stadium as the home of the Egyptian National Team alongside the Cairo International Stadium. In addition to the National Team, Smouha, the team from Alexandria, also plays here. A fun fact: the stadium was designed and constructed entirely by the engineering corps of the Egyptian Armed Forces.

Year Built 2006
Home Teams Egyptian National Soccer Team, Smouha

18 - Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur - 87,411

The stadium was built for the Commonwealth Games in 1998. In addition to these, it also hosted the Southeast Asian Games in 2001, several matches from the Malaysian National Soccer Team, and for the AFC Asian Cup in 2007. It was inaugurated on July 11, 1998, by the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, during the Commonwealth Games. Aside from sporting events, it also hosts national and international soccer matches like the Malaysia FA Cup and the Malaysia Cup, as well as concerts.

Year Built 1995
Home Teams Malaysian National Soccer Team

17 - Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta - 88,083

This is the largest stadium in Southeast Asia: it was inaugurated in 1962 and cost approximately 20 million dollars. It is named after Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia, and is primarily used for soccer matches, especially those of the Indonesian National Team. The first matches hosted were those of the 1962 Asian Games; other noteworthy matches included those of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the Asian Games in 2018, and the Para Asian Games. Among the other competitions, we find the finals of the Tiger Cup and the National Cup.

Year Built 1960
Home Teams Indonesia National Soccer Team, Persija Jakarta

16 - Wembley, London - 90,000

The new Wembley replaced the old one (which was demolished) in 2007. The venue hosts both soccer and rugby matches, as well as athletics. A defining feature of the new stadium is the steel arch built over the North Stand (the main grandstand), whereas the previous stadium was characterized by the twin towers. Due to its dimensions, 133 meters by 315, it plays a crucial role in shaping the new skyline of London.

Among the most significant soccer matches played at Wembley are those from the 2012 Olympic Games, the UEFA Champions League finals of 2011 between Barcelona and Manchester United and of 2013 between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich; for rugby matches, we mention those from the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Wembley also frequently hosts world-class concerts: George Michael, Muse, Madonna, Live Earth, Take That, Ed Sheeran, and recently, the Spice Girls with their last tour SpiceWorld 2019.

Year Built 2003
Home Teams England National Soccer Team

15 - The Rose Bowl, Pasadena - 92,542

The largest American football stadium in the United States, famous for hosting the final of the World Cup where Italy lost on penalties to Brazil. Officially recognized as a historic landmark, the stadium hosts the Pac-12 Conference games (which includes 12 universities from the western United States), the bowl game, the college football known as the Rose Bowl Game, and the games of the UCLA Bruins University.

The venue was also used for soccer matches until 2003; among the most important matches held here were those of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the 1994 World Cup final, and the third-place match between Bulgaria and Sweden, and the final of the Women's World Cup 1999 between the USA and China. For major non-sporting events, there have been significant concerts held by Depeche Mode, The Cure, and Pink Floyd.

Year Built 1922
Home Teams Rose Bowl Game, UCLA Bruins (American football)

14 - FNB Stadium, Johannesburg - 94,736

The First National Bank Stadium, more simply known as FNB Stadium, Soccer City, or The Calabash due to its shape resembling a typical African pot. It was built in 1987 and renovated and expanded in 2009 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: it hosted the opening match between South Africa and Mexico and the final between Spain and the Netherlands.

The venue hosts the home soccer games of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, the South African National Soccer Team, and the South African National Rugby Team. The stadium holds significant historic importance: here, Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech in 1990 after his release from prison and appeared publicly for the last time before his passing during the final ceremony of the 2010 World Cup. His memorial took place here in 2013.

Year Built 1986
Home Teams South African National Soccer Team, Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, South African National Rugby Team

13 - Azadi Stadium, Tehran - 95,225

The official stadium of Tehran in Iran, was inaugurated in 1971 to host the 1974 Asian Games. The attendance record was set during the World Cup qualifying match for France 1998 between Iran and Australia with 120 thousand people. The stadium is located in the city center and is part of the large Azadi sports complex, which is used for soccer, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting, and also rowing (the center also includes a river). It is used to host matches for the Iranian National Soccer Team, Esteghlal F.C., and Persepolis F.C., both of whom play in the top division of the Iranian Football Championship.

In 2005, unfortunately, a tragic incident occurred during the match between Iran and Japan, resulting in the death of 5 people and injuries to another 40 due to overcrowding of fans in the stands. Furthermore, since 1982, a ban on women's access to the stadium has been enforced: in 2018, on the occasion of the World Cup match between Iran and Spain, for the first time since the 1979 revolution, women were exceptionally allowed entry to watch the game.

Year Built 1971
Home Teams Persepolis F.C., Esteghlal F.C., Iranian National Soccer Team

12 - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City - 99,500

It hosts the home matches of Club América and often those of the Mexican National Soccer Team. The stadium is also known as Santa Ursula, from the neighboring area in which it stands, but also as Guillermo Cañedo; however, its official name honors the civilization of the Aztecs. A unique stadium as it has hosted two World Cup finals, one in 1970 and another in 1986, and furthermore it is the stadium that has hosted the most matches overall during the final phase of a World Cup.

The stadium also hosted the final of the Olympic soccer tournament in 1968, the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, and the semifinal of the 1970 World Cup between Italy and West Germany, won by Italy and remembered in history as the "Game of the Century". It was made even more famous by goals scored by Diego Maradona, one with his hand against England and the other considered the "goal of the century".

Year Built 1963
Home Teams Club América, Mexican National Soccer Team

11 - Camp Nou, Barcelona - 99,354

The stadium where Barcelona's team has played since 1957. It is the largest stadium in Spain and all of Europe. Until 2001, it was officially called Estadio de Futbol Club Barcelona, then simply Camp Nou through a referendum among club members. It has hosted two UEFA Champions League finals, in 1989 between Milan and Steaua Bucharest and in 1999 between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, numerous Copa del Rey finals, and the final stages of the 1982 World Cup and 1964 European Championship.

Among the most famous and significant concerts are those of Michael Jackson, Julio Iglesias, U2, Bruce Springsteen, the charity concert organized by Amnesty International, and the Concert for the Three Tenors featuring Josep Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti. The Camp Nou also hosted a mass by Pope John Paul II in 1982 for the honorary citizenship of Barcelona and a fashion show by Dirk Bikkembergs.

Year Built 1954
Home Teams FC Barcelona (soccer)

10 - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne - 100,024

Inaugurated in 1853, it hosts matches of cricket and Australian football, the most popular sport in Australia; the field is oval-shaped and consists of two teams of 18 players. Over the years, the stadium has also hosted worldwide events like concerts from the Rolling Stones, U2, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, rugby matches, soccer games, and official visits from Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II. In 1959, there was a record turnout when the religious ceremony of preacher Billy Graham was held, attended by 143,000 people. The stadium also hosted tennis matches and cycling events in 1869 and 1878.

Year Built 1853
Home Teams Richmond Tigers, Melbourne Demons, Hawthorn Hawks, Collingwood Football Club, Essendon Bombers (Australian Football) - Victoria and Melbourne Renegades (cricket)

9 - Darrell K Royal, Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin - 100,199

In addition to being one of the largest stadiums in the world, it also has an incredible-sized scoreboard, measuring 25x41 meters, nicknamed Godzillatron: in 2014, the year it was installed, it was the largest HD screen in the world, later surpassed by another screen in Tokyo. The story of Godzillatron does not end there: it was harshly criticized by fans for being too loud and full of advertisements, and so it was rebranded as ADzillatron. The stadium was inaugurated in 1924 but was originally built by Theo Bellmont, the athletic director of the Texas Longhorns football team, and was financed by students at a total cost of $275,000. The match with the highest attendance took place in 2016 with the game between Texas Longhorns and Notre Dame.

Year Built 1924
Home Teams Texas Longhorns (American football)

8 - Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa - 101,821

Inaugurated in 1929, it was named in honor of George H. Denny, who served as president of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for twenty years (1912 to 1932). In 1975, recognition was also awarded to Paul "Bear" Bryant, the legendary coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the home team that plays in this stadium. In addition to the American football team, the stadium also hosts events for the Alabama High School Athletic Association, the state track team. A renovation with new sports facilities and displays is planned for 2020.

Year Built 1928
Home Teams Alabama Crimson Tide (American football) - Alabama High School Athletic Association (athletics)

7 - Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge - 102,321

It was inaugurated in 1924 and today primarily hosts football games: the LSU Tigers play their home games here. It is called Death Valley due to the noise from the stands during athletic events. A famous phrase from Bear Bryant, a renowned college football player and coach, says: "Baton Rouge is the worst place in the world for a visiting team: it's like being inside a drum", a phrase that summarizes the many victories of the home team in this stadium and the fear of their opponents. The word WIN is painted on a crossbar, and it is a tradition for the players to touch it before starting the game. Additionally, the stadium has the peculiarity of having gates shaped like H rather than like Y as most other stadiums.

Year Built 1924
Home Teams LSU Tigers (American football)

6 - Neyland Stadium, Knoxville - 102,455

Primarily hosts college football games. In 2004, it set the attendance record with 109,061 people during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers, the home team, and Florida. Some of the most significant historical events include Billy Graham's Crusade in 1970, which was also attended by President Nixon. The Crusade was characterized by thousands of pacifists trying to halt the event. Renovation work is planned shortly (announced in 2017) to increase the capacity of the venue by 10,000 seats.

Year Built 1921
Home Teams Tennessee Volunteers (American football)

5 - Kyle Field, College Station - 102,733

It is also known as "Home of the 12th Man" and hosts the home games of the Aggies. A stadium that in the past (1990s) proved to be a very lucky playing field due to a high win percentage in college football, 93.2%. In the past, a small cemetery was set up for the team mascot dogs, Reveille. Today, the current mascot is Reveille IX: all mascots, to take on this prestigious role, must be female Rough Collies.

Year Built 1927
Home Teams Texas A&M Aggies football (American football)

4 - Ohio Stadium, Columbus - 104,944

Also known as "The Horseshoe" it was inaugurated in 1922. Before 2014, it did not have a permanent lighting system, which is why night games were very few. The stadium hosts the home games of the Ohio State Buckeyes; in the past, it served as the playing field for MLS matches (the American soccer league), but due to lack of lighting and the smaller size of the venue, it was forced to change fields a few years later. Among the most famous worldwide events that have taken place at Ohio Stadium are concerts by Pink Floyd in 1988 and 1994, the Rolling Stones in 1997 and 2015, Genesis, U2, and Metallica.

Year Built 1921
Home Teams Ohio State Buckeyes

3 - Beaver Stadium, University Park - 106,572

The first stadium ever to be photographed inside for Google Street View in 2010. Its attendance record was set in 2017 during the game between Penn State and Michigan with 110,823 people. Since 1960, it has hosted the Big Ten Conference Lions from Penn State and is named after James A. Beaver, a former governor of Pennsylvania and president of its university's board of trustees. What characterizes it the most is the practice of "tailgating", that is, eating and drinking near the stadium before any sporting event starts, often even with real barbecues set up along the road.

Year Built 1959
Home Teams Penn State Nittany Lions (American football)

2 - Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor - 106,601

The stadium hosts the American football matches of the University of Michigan; its construction began in 1927 and it has been remodeled several times over the years. The attendance record occurred during the Michigan-Notre Dame game in 2013, with 115,109 people. The venue is nicknamed "The Big House" due to its size and capacity. The stadium is environmentally conscious: everything that can be sold inside can indeed be recycled or composted. It is the home stadium of the Michigan Wolverines, the American football team of the University of Michigan.

Year Built 1926
Home Teams Michigan Wolverines (American football)

1 - Rungrado May Day Stadium, Pyongyang - 150,000

Also known simply as May Day Stadium, it is the largest stadium in the world with its 150,000 seats, a surface area of 270,000 square meters, with 16 arches resembling a magnolia, 80 entrances, an indoor pool, a sauna, and many other rooms that also serve as a relaxation center for players. It was built in about two years on Rungra Island, on the Taedong River, and was inaugurated on May 1, 1980.

The most significant show that the stadium hosts is the Arirang Festival, which attracts thousands of people: it is also known as the Guinness World Records, the largest event of its kind in the world, organized every year by the North Korean regime. In addition, the stadium is also used for soccer, especially for the North Korean National Team and for track and field events. Other significant historic events include the PPV Collision in Korea in 1995 (wrestling matches) and the meeting between Kim Jong II and Madeleine Albright, then U.S. Secretary of State.

Year Built 1987
Home Teams North Korean National Team