List of national stadiums
Many countries have a national sport stadium, which typically serves as the primary or exclusive home for one or more of a country's national representative sports teams. The term is most often used in reference to an association football stadium. Usually, a national stadium will be in or very near a country's capital city or largest city. It is generally (but not always) the country's largest and most lavish sports venue with a rich history of hosting a major moment in sports (i.e. FIFA World Cup, Olympics, etc.). In many, but not all cases, it is also used by a local team. Many countries, including Spain and the United States, do not have a national stadium designated as such; instead matches are rotated throughout the country. The lack of a national stadium can be seen as advantageous as designating a single stadium would limit the fan base capable of realistically attending matches as well as the concern of the cost of transportation, especially in the case of the United States due to its geographical size and high population.
A list of national stadiums follows:
Afghanistan
- Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium (cricket)
- National Stadium (football)
Albania
- Qemal Stafa
- Elbasan Arena
- Loro Boriçi Stadium
- Arena Kombëtare
Algeria
- Stade 5 Juillet 1962 (football)
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
- Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti (football)
- Estadio Multipropósito Parque Roca (basketball and tennis)
- Estadio Nacional de Hockey (field hockey)
- Campo Argentino de Polo (polo)
- CeNARD (athletics)
- Estadio José Amalfitani, also known as Vélez Sársfield (rugby union)—Although the national team plays Tests at several venues around the country, most of their home Tests against teams in the Six Nations and Tri Nations are held here.
Armenia
- Hrazdan Stadium (football)
- Hanrapetakan Stadium (football)
Australia
Australia does not have an official national stadium, yet its three biggest stadiums alternate hosting large events are the following:
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (Cricket and Australian rules football) - currently the largest sporting venue in Australia and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere with a capacity of 100,024.
- Stadium Australia, currently known under a sponsorship deal as 'ANZ Stadium' - was the 2000 Sydney Olympic Stadium (at the time with a capacity of 110,000), and now hosts Rugby League, Rugby Union and Association football matches with a capacity of 84,000. There exists a popular rivalry between ANZ Stadium and the MCG due to lasting rivalries between football codes and the respective cities. Cricket and AFL are currently not played at the venue.
- Perth Stadium, currently known under a sponsorship deal as 'Optus Stadium' It is the third largest stadium in Australia. The Stadium can normally hold 60,000 people with potential to be reconfigured to 70,000 seats.
Austria
- Ernst Happel Stadion (football)
Azerbaijan
- Baku National Stadium (football)
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
- Aquatic Centre (artistic swimming, swimming, and water polo)
- Barbados National Stadium (outdoor track and field)
Belarus
Belgium
- King Baudouin Stadium (football and athletics)
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brazil does not have an official national stadium. Large sports events (mostly football) are commonly held in alternate venues. However, during reconstruction for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and as the capital city's and country's greatest stadium, the name Estádio Nacional (Portuguese for National Stadium) was added to the old Mané Garrincha stadium, leaving its official name as Estádio Nacional de Brasília Mané Garrincha, even though it doesn't act as a solo national stadium.
The largest and most well known stadium in Brazil is Estádio do Maracanã located at Rio de Janeiro. The Brazil national football team have most of their high-profile matches taken place in the Maracanã and the venue has hosted multiple World Cup and Copa America matches in its history including the two World Cup finals that Brazil has hosted (1950 and 2014).
Brunei Darussalam
- Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium (football)
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
- Stade du 4-Août (football)
Burundi
- Stade Prince Louis Rwagasore (football)
Cameroon
- Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo (football and athletics)
Canada
- BC Place (multiple sports)
- BMO Field (Canada men's national soccer team)
- Maple Leaf Cricket Club (cricket)
- Rogers Centre (baseball)
- Scotiabank Arena (basketball)
- Canada does not have a national stadium/arena for ice hockey. The national team plays at several venues throughout the country. Likewise, Canadian football and lacrosse, two prominent sports unique to Canadian culture, play at multiple venues across the nation.
Prior to confederation into Canada, the Dominion of Newfoundland used King George V Park as its national stadium.
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
- Stade Idriss Mahamat Ouya (football)
Chile
- Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos (football)
- Court Central Anita Lizana (tennis)
China
The China national football team does not have a national stadium. The team traditionally plays games at Hongkou Football Stadium, Kunming Tuodong Sports Center, Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, or Workers' Stadium, but in recent years, they have played most of their games at other venues.
Comoros
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
- Stade de la Revolution (football)
Cook Islands
- National Stadium (Cook Islands)
Costa Rica
Croatia
There is no official national stadium. The following two stadiums are the largest and most commonly host international events:
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
- Strahov Stadium (sokol)
- Eden Arena (football)
- O2 arena (ice hockey)
Denmark
Djibouti
- Stade du Ville
Dominica
- Windsor Park (cricket and football)
Dominican Republic
- Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez (athletics and football)
- Estadio Quisqueya (baseball)
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
- Nuevo Estadio de Malabo (football)
Eritrea
Estonia
eSwatini
Faroe Islands
Fiji
- ANZ Stadium (rugby union)
- National Hockey Centre (field hockey)
Finland
- Helsinki Olympic Stadium (football and athletics)
- Hartwall Areena (ice hockey)
France
- Stade de France (football, rugby union, and athletics)
- In the case of rugby, the national team plays Test matches throughout the country, but it uses Stade de France exclusively for its fixtures in the Six Nations Championship.
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
- Boris Paichadze Stadium (football and rugby union)
Germany
- The German national football team usually plays at different stadiums throughout the country. However, the venue for the German Cup Final is the Olympiastadion in Berlin. As a multipurpose stadium, the Berlin Olympiastadion also hosts international athletic competitions and other events. However, the Munich Olympiastadion was used for the finals of international football competitions held during the later West German era, such in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1988.
Ghana
- Ohene Djan Stadium (football)
Greece
Greenland
- Nuuk Stadium (football)
- New National Stadium (proposed)
Guinea
- Stade 28 Septembre (football)
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary
- Puskás Aréna (football)
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Team sports in Ireland are often governed by bodies representing both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, on an All-Ireland basis. See the Northern Ireland section for other cases.
Stadium | Owner | Sports | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Aviva Stadium | Irish Rugby Football Union football Association of Ireland | rugby union and association football | The IRFU is all-island while the FAI is restricted to the Republic. The IRFU owns the land but the stadium built on it is jointly owned by both bodies. |
Croke Park | Gaelic Athletic Association | Gaelic games and international rules football | The GAA is all-island |
Morton Stadium | National Sports Campus Development Authority | athletics | Athletics Ireland is all-island, although Athletics Northern Ireland is linked to both Athletics Ireland and UK Athletics. |
National Stadium | Irish Amateur Boxing Association | boxing | The IABA is all-island |
National Basketball Arena | Basketball Ireland | basketball | Basketball Ireland is all-island |
National Indoor Arena | National Sports Campus Development Authority | various indoor sports[2] | Construction began at the National Sports Campus in 2015.[3] |
National Aquatic Centre | National Sports Campus Development Authority | aquatics | Swim Ireland uses but does not own the venue, which is part of the National Sports Campus. |
National Horse Arena | National Sports Campus Development Authority | equestrianism | Horse Sport Ireland uses but does not own the venue, which is part of the National Sports Campus. |
The following venues are "designated national sporting arenas" for the purposes of Section 21 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 (which regulates sale of alcohol at sports venues):[4] National Stadium,[5] Croke Park,[6] Semple Stadium,[7] Royal Dublin Society,[8] Aviva Stadium,[9] Thomond Park.[10]
Israel
Italy
- The Italian national football team usually plays at different stadiums throughout the country.
- Stadio Olimpico (Olympics and rugby union)
- In the case of rugby union, the national team plays matches throughout the country, but since 2012 has used Stadio Olimpico for all of its home Six Nations matches. Previously, Stadio Flaminio served the same purpose.
Ivory Coast
- Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny (football)
- Stade National de la Côte d’Ivoire (Association football; under construction)
Jamaica
Japan
- Ariake Coliseum (tennis)
- Tokyo Dome (baseball)
- Koshien Stadium (baseball)
- National Stadium (football and athletics)
- International Stadium Yokohama (football)
- Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (rugby union)—The Japan national team plays matches at several venues around the country, but Chichibunomiya is the most commonly used, and the country's national federation is headquartered here.
- Kokugikan (Sumo)
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Republic of Korea
- Seoul Olympic Stadium (athletics)
- Seoul World Cup Stadium (football)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Kim Il-sung Stadium (football and athletics)
- Rungnado May Day Stadium
Kosovo
- Fadil Vokrri Stadium (football)
- Palace of Youth and Sports (basket)
Kurdistan
Latvia
Lesotho
- Setsoto Stadium (football and athletics)
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
- Žalgiris Arena (basketball)
- S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium (football)
Luxembourg
Macau
Malawi
Malaysia
- Arena Nicol David (squash)
- Axiata Arena (badminton)
- Stadium Negara
- Bukit Jalil National Stadium (Football and athletics)
- National Hockey Stadium (Field Hockey)
Maldives
Mali
Malta
- Ta' Qali Stadium (football)
- Hibernians Ground (Rugby union)
Mauritius
- Anjalay Stadium (association football and athletics)
- Arsenal Football Ground (association football)
- Auguste Vollaire Stadium (association football and athletics)
- Bon Acceuil Sports Complex (badminton, jujutsu, karate, and volleyball)
- Glen Park Multi Sports Complex (association football, badminton, basketball, handball, karate, pétanque, table tennis, and taekwondo)
- Harry Latour Stadium (association football)
- Mare D'Albert Swimming Pool (swimming)
- Morcellement St Andre Football Ground (association football)
- National Badminton Centre (badminton)
- National Boxing Centre (boxing)
- National Judo Centre (judo, karate, savate, and wrestling)
- National Table Tennis Centre (table tennis)
- National Weightlifting Centre (Olympic weightlifting)
- National Wrestling Centre (wrestling)
- New George V Stadium (association football)
- Pandit Sahadeo Gymnasium (volleyball)
- Pavillon Swimming Pool (swimming)
- Quartier Militaire Stadium (association football)
- Rivière du Rempart Swimming Pool (swimming)
- Rose Belle Stadium (association football and athletics)
- Rose Hill Multi-Purpose Training Complex (association football, basketball, handball, tennis, and volleyball)
- Serge Alfred Swimming Pool (swimming)
- Sir. R. Ghurburrun Stadium (association football)
- Souvenir Swimming Pool (swimming)
- St François Xavier Stadium (association football)
- Stade Germain Comarmond (association football and athletics)
- The Basketball and Handball Gymnasium (basketball and handball)
Mexico
- Estadio Azteca (football)
- Estadio Olimpico Universitario (athletics)
- Revolution Ice Rink (ice hockey)
- Mexico does not have a national arena/stadium for baseball or basketball. Mexico's national baseball and basketball teams play at various venues throughout the country.
Moldova
Monaco
- Stade Louis II (football and athletics)
Montenegro
Myanmar
- Bogyoke Aung San Stadium
- National Indoor Stadium (badminton)
- Thuwunna Stadium (association football)
- Wunna Theikdi Sports Stadium (association football)
Namibia
Nepal
- Dasarath Rangasala Stadium (association football)
- NSC Covered Hall (basketball and taekwondo)
- Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground (cricket)
Netherlands
- Olympisch Stadion (athletics)
- The national football team has no dedicated stadium. It plays at venues around the country. However the most commonly used stadium is the Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam, home to Eredivisie club Ajax.
- Nationaal Rugby Centrum Amsterdam (rugby union)
Nigeria
- Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (football and other sports)
- Abuja Stadium (football and other sports)
- Lagos National Stadium (football and other sports)
Norway
- Ullevaal Stadion (football)
- Bislett Stadion (athletics)
North Macedonia
Pakistan
- National Stadium, Karachi (cricket)
- Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (cricket)
Palau
- Palau National Stadium (PCC Palau Track & Field Stadium), (football and other sports)
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
- Estadio Nacional (Lima) (football)
Philippines
Poland
- Stadion Śląski (Silesian Stadium) in Chorzów (football) - this stadium was previously designated by Polish Football Association as Poland national football team's official national stadium.
- Stadion Narodowy (football) - home stadium of Poland national football team.
- National Rugby Stadium, rugby union national stadium
- Torwar Hala Sportowo-Widowiskowa (judo)
- Torwar II Lodowisko (figure skating)
Portugal
- Estádio do Jamor (football and athletics). However, the national football team very seldom plays there.
- Estádio Universitário de Lisboa (rugby union)
Romania
- Arena Națională (football)
- Stadionul Național de Rugby (rugby union) — The national team plays occasional matches at other venues around the country, but the vast majority of matches are held here.
Russia
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Serbia
- Partizan Stadium (football)
- Red Star Stadium (football)
- Belgrade Arena (basketball)
Singapore
Spain
- The Spanish national football team usually plays at different stadiums throughout the country!
Sierra Leone
South Africa
The national football, rugby union and cricket teams all play at various venues throughout South Africa. However, these are the de facto national stadiums:
- Soccer City (football)
- Newlands (rugby union)
- The Wanderers (cricket)
- Randburg Astroturf (field hockey)
- Loftus Versfeld (Rugby Union)
Suriname
Sweden
- Friends Arena (men's football)
- Gamla Ullevi (women's football)
- Tele2 Arena (American football, speedway)
- Stockholms Stadion (athletics)
- Ericsson Globe (ice hockey)
- Lugnet (nordic skiing)
- Åre Ski Area (alpine skiing)
- Stadium Arena (basketball)
- Nya Örvallen (baseball)
- Eriksdalsbadet (swimming)
Switzerland
- Stade de Suisse (Football)
Tajikistan
- Pamir Stadium (football and athletics)
Tanzania
Thailand
- Rajamangala Stadium (football and athletics)
- Suphachalasai Stadium (football and athletics)
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Tunisia
- Stade Olympique de Rades (football and athletics)
- Stade El Menzah (football)
- Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet (football)
- Salle Omnisport de Rades (Basketball), (Handball) and (Volleyball)
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
- Abu Dhabi International Tennis Centre (tennis)
- Al Maktoum Stadium (association football)
- Al Nahyan Stadium (association football)
- Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (association football)
- Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium (association football)
- Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium (association football)
- Zabeel Stadium (association football)
- Zayed Sports City Stadium (association football)
United Kingdom
Team sports in the United Kingdom are often governed by bodies representing the Home Nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – with some sports organised on an All-Ireland basis. In international sporting events these sports are contested not by a team representing the United Kingdom, but by teams representing the separate home nations, and as a result there are separate national stadiums for many sports.
- London Stadium (athletics, football)
- Wimbledon Centre Court (Tennis)
- Silverstone Circuit (Motorsport)
England
- Lord's (cricket)
- Twickenham (rugby union)
- Wembley Stadium (football, rugby league)
- National Badminton Centre (badminton)
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
- Principality Stadium (rugby union, football)
- Sophia Gardens (cricket)
- Cardiff City Stadium (football)
United States
- Like Spain, Brazil, Australia, Germany, and Italy, the US national soccer team has no dedicated stadium or arena. They play at different venues throughout the country for exhibition or tournament purposes. However, 21 games were held in RFK Stadium in the country's capital, Washington, D.C., more than any other venue in the country, which led to suggestions that RFK Memorial was the de facto national stadium prior to its 2019 closure.[11][12] The women's soccer team also has no dedicated venue.
- USA Hockey has designated home arenas for some of its teams. The national under-17 and under-18 boys' teams play home games at Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The national sled hockey team trains at Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex in Brighton, New York and plays most of its home games at LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York, the last of which has also hosted numerous other USA Hockey events.
- Most of the most popular sports in the United States do not rely on a single national stadium, instead rotating the highest profile contests among various neutral sites.
- Howard J. Lamade Stadium (Little League Baseball)—Lamade Stadium is the primary stadium of the Little League World Series, hosting the final every year. It is one of two stadiums at the Little League headquarters complex in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania that permanently hosts the LLWS, with Volunteer Stadium as the other.
- Augusta National Golf Club (men's golf)—Augusta is home of The Masters, the only one of the three U.S.-based men's major golf tournaments to be held at a constant venue year after year; the U.S. Open and PGA Championship are both held at rotating venues.
- Mission Hills Country Club (women's golf)—Mission Hills hosts the ANA Inspiration, only one of the three U.S.-based women's major golf tournaments to be held at a constant venue year after year; the U.S. Women's Open and Women's PGA Championship are both held at rotating venues.
- Arthur Ashe Stadium (tennis)—primary stadium of the lone U.S. tennis major, the US Open. The stadium is the centerpiece of a complex known as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
- Auto racing, although its leading competitions are both touring circuits, feature flagship races at de facto national speedways: Indianapolis Motor Speedway for open-wheel racing, Circuit of the Americas for Formula One, and Daytona International Speedway for stock car racing.
- Churchill Downs and Belmont Park (horse racing)—each track hosts a leg in the Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred Racing, and both have hosted the most prominent race outside the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup Classic, which is part of the Breeders' Cup event held annually at rotating venues. (Pimlico, the site of the other leg of the Triple Crown, has never hosted the Breeders' Cup.)
Uruguay
Vatican City
Stadio Petriana (football)—because the Vatican City does not have enough territory to house a sports stadium, Stadio Petriana is in fact situated within the bounds of Italy.
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
- National Sports Stadium (football, rugby union and athletics)
References
- "Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- "National Indoor Arena". National Sports Campus Development Authority. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- O'Keeffe, Alan (18 July 2015). "Work starts on national arena for Olympic 2016 stars". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003: Amendments, Commencement, SIs made under the Act". Irish Statute Book. 16 November 2016. Other Associated Secondary Legislation. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "S.I. No. 156/2015 - Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 (Designation of National Sporting Arena) (National Stadium) Regulations 2015". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "S.I. No. 149/2011 - Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 (Section 21) (Croke Park, Dublin) Regulations 2011". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "S.I. No. 124/2011 - Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 (Section 21) (Semple Stadium, Thurles) Regulations 2011". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "S.I. No. 47/2012 - Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 (Section 21) (Royal Dublin Society) Regulations 2012". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "S.I. No. 160/2010 - Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 (Section 21) Regulations 2010". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- "S.I. No. 388/2008 - Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 (Section 21) Regulations 2008". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- RFK as our National Soccer Stadium: News Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine. Match Fit USA (2009-10-20). Retrieved on 2011-12-24.
- Bill Simmons "Every big American soccer game should be played in RFK." News: ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (2009-10-16). Retrieved on 2011-12-24.