Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
South America, especially the countries of Brazil and Argentina, have a deep connection to football. After all, some of the world's most legendary players such as Pele and Maradona come from these countries, and they're just the tip of the iceberg. Football is a religion in South America, and that has led to the creation of some iconic football stadiums.
Everyone's heard of names such as Maracana and La Bombonera, but they're not the only iconic stadiums in South America. There are many others that deserve your attention and we'll talk more about them in the paragraphs below.
What makes South American football stadiums stand out? While they might not be technological marvels like some European stadiums, it's the love for the game and high attendances that make these stadiums stand out from the crowd. Football is a religion in Brazil, Argentina, and other South American countries. Whether it's watching games or betting on them, football is by far the most popular sport on the continent.
Bettors love putting their money on their favorite teams, choosing markets such as Asian handicap or match winners with the most competitive odds. Millions are poured into football betting in South America, especially at Brazil and Argentina derbies watched by millions on TV screens and hundreds of thousands of football fans in attendance.
That kind of crowd can only be supported by massive stadiums, just like the ones we have on the list below.
Officially named Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, the Maracana is probably the most iconic football stadium around the world, not just South America. It's a name that has a deep connection to football, and a stadium that has seen legends play the beautiful game on its pitch.
Located in Rio de Janeiro and owned by the local government, the Maracana was opened in 1950 to host the opening FIFA World Cup match between Brazil and Uruguay. It wasn't the opener the hosts hoped, as Brazil lost the match 2-1. However, the stadium seen a record crowd of 173,850 spectators, with a further 284 matches with crowds over 100,000.
Recent renovations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup have seen terraces replaced with seats, reducing the capacity to just over 73,000. Nevertheless, the Maracana remains an iconic stadium in the world, hosting the Flamengo-Fluminense derby. Fun fact - the Fla-Flu derby in 1963 holds a record attendance number of 194,603 spectators, which is just insane.
From the beautiful Rio we travel close by to Argentina and the legendary La Bombonera. Its iconic flat stand on one side and three steep stands around the rest of the stadium make it look like a chocolate box after which its got its name.
The stadium is a home ground to Boca Juniors, an Argentina champion with over 18 million fans. Many of the world's most legendary players have stepped out on the La Bombonera pitch. These include the late and great Diego Maradona, Mario Kempes, Alfredo di Stefano, Pele, Ronaldo, Gabriel Batistuta, Edinson Cavani, and Lionel Messi.
With a capacity of 57,200 seats, it's doesn't hold that big of a crowd. However, its influence goes beyond sheer numbers, as the stadium has an undeniable magical effect on crowds.
Uruguay's Estadio Centenario is located in the city of Montevideo in Uruguay. It's one of the oldest big stadiums in the world, hosting the opening match of the iconic 1930 Montevideo World Cup. Centenario is listed as one of FIFA's classic stadiums, and has been declared a Historical Monument of World Football by the same organization in 1983.
The stadium doesn't belong to a club like Maracana or La Bombonera. Instead, it's the home ground for Uruguay's national football team. It's one of the toughest grounds for Uruguay's rivals, with even Brazil only winning 3 matches out of 20 visits to the Centenario.
La Bombonera may be the most iconic football stadium in Argentina, but The Monumental is the largest one. Located in Buenos Aires, the stadium was opened in 1938. It has been visited by some of the world's top football stars and teams. The largest match is undeniably the 1978 World Cup final, in which Argentina beat the Netherlands 3-1 to claim the title.
While Peru is known for iconic monuments such as Machu Picchu, the Estadio Monumental U is another one of the country's landmarks. It's the largest stadium in Peru and was opened in 2000. It's the home ground for one of Peru's best clubs, Universitario de Deportes. The pitch has seen iconic local and Copa America matches played on it which has elevated its status to iconic.
Located in Lima, the stadium has a capacity of over 80,000 seats. As one of the newer stadiums on this list, the future for the Estadio Monumental U is certainly bright.
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