Top 5 of the Most Iconic Football Stadiums Worldwide

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Football, without a doubt, is best to be watched live in a stadium full of cheering fans. The hype and excitement a packed stadium brings not only allows you to see your favourite teams in a different light but will also make the entire football experience worth it. Stadiums, after all, can make or break your overall football experience, be it as a regular fan or a bettor wagering.  You can find best betting bookmakers online.

However, some football stadiums are considered iconic because of their size, design, or even the matches they held. It's without a doubt that these football stadiums have made their mark in the history of football.

Wembley Stadium (England)

Located in London, England, the famous Wembley Stadium is England's national stadium and football's one true home. This prestigious stadium houses 90,000 seats, the largest sports stadium in the UK and the second-largest stadium in Europe. But the venue doesn't only host sports alone. It's also a popular music venue in the UK.

Because of its size and capacity, the stadium has been recognised as iconic internationally, becoming a venue that hosted prestigious sporting events, such as the England Internationals, the 2011 and 2013 UEFA Champions League Finals, and the 2012 Olympic Games' gold medal matches.

Wembley's greatest game, the Sunderland vs Charlton match, happened on the 25^th of May, 1998. The winning team would win a whopping £9.85 million in TV Rights, which made the game much more intense.

Despite both teams struggling to dominate the other, Charlton Athletic took home the win and went to the Premiership for the first time.

Camp Nou (Spain)

No football fan wouldn't know about Camp Nou, a prestigious stadium located in Barcelona, Spain. If the Wembley Stadium is only the second largest in Europe, Camp Nou takes first place, with a 99,354 capacity. Not only that, but it is also the home to Barcelona's greatest football team. Their famous motto, “Mes que un club,” or more than a club, has been iconic in the football world.

The stadium, doubling as a museum, was founded in 1984. It showcases the club's entire history, from its establishment to its numerous photographs. Camp Nou is also known for its collection of trophies, even housing the first Barcelona Cup Trophy from 1902.

One of Camp Nou's best and most memorable games was the Manchester United vs Bayern Munich game during the 1998-99 Champions League.

Anfield (England)

Considered as the home of the Premier League club Liverpool, Anfield is a football stadium with a total capacity of 53,394, thus taking seventh place as the largest football stadium in England.  The stadium used to be the original home of another team, Everton, who left for Goodison Park After an altercation with the club's president.

Anfield has witnessed Liverpool's greatest victories, one of which is the team's match against Newcastle United in April 1996. Many experts consider this game as the best Premier League match in the history of EPL. It was so iconic that various football experts voted it as the “Match of the Decade” in 2003, during the 10 Season Awards. Moreover, during Sky Sports' 20th-anniversary list, it was considered as the number one live broadcast.

Anfield, without a doubt, is an iconic stadium. And just like Wembley, this stadium is also famous as a music venue for musicians of different genres. Not only that, Anfield witnessed the celebration of the 2008 Liverpool European Capital of Culture. At least 36,000 attendees watched a concert live featuring Paul McCartney, The Zutons, and Kaiser Chiefs.

Celtic Park (Scotland)

Housing at least 60,411 seats, the Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland, is the biggest football stadium in the country. It is also the home of the Scottish National Team. Moreover, the park used to have an oval shape, which was changed to a rectangle to create an enclosed yet intimidating ambience for prestigious games. The ground is split into four sections: North, Stands, Jock Stein, and Lisbon Lions.

An iconic match that occurred in the stadium was the Celtic vs Barcelona in 2012, which experts arguably consider one of the best matches in the park's history. The Celtic won 2-1 against Barcelona, with star player, Lionel Messi, commenting that the park's and the game‘s atmosphere certainly left a mark on him.

The Maracana (Brazil)

The Maracana, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is considered number one among the most iconic football stadiums in the world. According to many experts, only a few stadiums can match the Maracana's rich history.

With a total capacity of 78,838, the stadium hosted the 1950 and 2014 World Cup Finals and the football finals in the 2016 Olympics. It also secured a place for itself in the “Hall of Fame.”

One of the most iconic events held in the stadium was during the FIFA World Cup in 1950, amassing 199,854 fans during the game on July 16. Uruguay beat the Brazilian team, 2-1, and became one of the most talked-about finals in history. While the number of spectators might seem like a one-time thing, the stadium had witnessed attendance of at least 150,000 another 26 times.

Watching Football Live

Football is a religion to many fans, and getting to witness it live might be more than a bucket list to others, it may be on live or on online tv. However, no matter how much of an avid you are, knowing which football stadiums made their mark in history will surely tickle your football-loving heart. So, take out your travel list and make sure to include these iconic stadiums for your next trip.