A number of stadiums in Europe have been frequently used for major competitions, despite only being used by the small clubs.
The stadiums chosen for most major tournaments normally belong to the elite
teams, or at least the ones competing in the top tiers. They are expected to
meet the organisers’ requirements. FIFA, for example, has its own strict guidelines, which do not only focus on the large capacity and location but also
review other aspects such as the design, facilities, technical system, safety
and security, and many more.
Some of those requirements are often updated, which could result in a snub
to the well-known stadium with a large capacity. Liverpool’s Anfield, for example, has been left out as one of the venues for EURO 2028 in the UK and Ireland due to its pitch dimension. The Reds’ home base only has 101 metres in
length, which is four metres shorter than UEFA’s current standard of 105 metres
in length. Its 61,276 seats and positive records in hosting four games in the
EURO 1996 final round plus one play-off match in the EURO 1996 qualifier do not
give it the luxury of standing out in the eyes of the European football
governing body.
On the contrary, the less famous CBS Arena, which can only hold less than
33,000 spectators, was picked to stage up to 12 games in football at the 2012
summer Olympics. It is the home of Coventry City, a team in the second tier of
the English football pyramid. The story of CBS Arena is undoubtedly not the
only one. Other small teams’ venues have been selected; some have even been
included more than once to hold games in major tournaments. Here are those
distinguished minnows-owned stadiums across Europe.
Hillsborough, Sheffield
This stadium is one of the ‘legendary’ venues in England due to its horrific
spectator crush in 1989 during the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and
Nottingham Forest. The authority’s failure in crowd control led to 97 deaths
and 776 injuries among the fans. Such a disaster had forced mass alterations to
all stadiums in England for the sake of safety and convenience, which included
the removal of parameter fences around the pitch and standing terraces for the
all-seater stadium model.
Hillsborough has been enlisted in not just once but two major tournaments:
the 1966 FIFA World Cup and EURO 1996. The stadium has always been the home of
Sheffield Wednesday, competing in the EFL Championship, or England’s
second-tier league. Their last appearance in the top flight was in 2000.
Stadium details
-
Built in 1899
-
Capacity: 39,732
-
Previous name: Owlerton Stadium (1899-1914)
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
West Germany vs Switzerland 5-0 |
Group stage |
1966 FIFA World Cup |
|
Spain vs Switzerland 2-1 |
|
|
|
Argentina vs Switzerland 2-0 |
|
|
|
Denmark vs Portugal 1-1 |
Group stage |
EURO 1996 |
|
Denmark vs Croatia 0-3 |
|
|
|
Denmark vs Turkey 3-0 |
|
|
Club details
-
Nickname: The Owl
-
Established: 1867
-
Notable silverwares: four English top flight
titles (1903, 1904, 1929, 1930) ; three FA Cup titles (1896, 1907, 1935); one
League Cup title (1991); one FA Charity/Community Shield title (1935)
-
Best performance in Europe:
|
Opponents |
Scores
(home ; away (total aggregate) |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Olympique Lyon (France) |
5-2 ; 2-4 (7-6) |
Round of 32 |
1962 Fairs Cup |
|
AS Roma (Italy) |
4-0 ; 0-1 (4-1) |
Round of 16 |
(Europa League) |
|
Barcelona (Spain) |
3-2 ; 0-2 (3-4) |
1/4 final |
|
-
Last performance in Europe: group stage in 1996
UEFA Intertoto Cup (UEFA Cup (Europa League) qualifiers)
Olympiastadion,
Berlin
Olympiastadion is not only one of the biggest stadium in
Germany but also the historic one. It is where the 1936 summer Olympics was
opened. The stadium which was built as a symbol of NAZI supremacy and greatness
during Adolf Hitler’s reign prior to World War II.
This venue has been selected for every major tournaments in
Germany, including in EURO 2024 later, plus one UEFA Champions League final. It
is officially owned by the Government of Berlin with various tenants throughout
its history. Hertha Berlin is the longest and most current one until today. They
were just relegated in summer 2023 and has been competing in Bundesliga 2 ever
since.
Stadium details
-
Built: 1934-1936
-
Capacity: 74,667
-
Previous name: Deustches Stadion
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Norway vs Italy 1-2 (aet) |
semi final |
1936 summer Olympics |
|
Austria vs Poland 3-1 |
semi final |
|
|
Norway vs Poland 3-2 |
Third place playoff |
|
|
Italy vs Austria 2-1 (aet) |
Final |
|
|
West Germany vs Chile 1-0 |
Group stage 1 |
1974 FIFA World Cup |
|
East Germany vs Chile 1-1 |
|
|
|
Australia vs Chile 0-0 |
|
|
|
Brasil vs Croatia 1-0 |
Group stage |
2006 FIFA World Cup |
|
Sweden vs Paraguay 1-0 |
|
|
|
Ecuador vs Germany 0-3 |
|
|
|
Ukraine vs Tunisia 1-0 |
|
|
|
Germany vs Argentina 1-1 (4-2 pen) |
1/4 final |
|
|
Italy vs France 1-1 (5-3 pen) |
Final |
|
|
Spain vs Croatia |
Group stage |
EURO 2024 |
|
- vs Austria |
|
|
|
Holland vs Austria |
|
|
|
|
Round of 16 |
|
|
|
1/4 final |
|
|
|
Final |
|
|
Barcelona vs Juventus 3-1 |
Final |
UCL 2015 |
-
Nickname: Die Alte Dame
-
Established: 1892
-
Notable silverwares: two German top flight
titles (1930, 1931) ; two German League Cup titles (2001, 2002)
-
Best performance in Europe:
|
Opponents |
Scores
(home ; away (total aggregate) |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Botev Plovdiv (Bulgaria) |
0-0 ; 2-1 (2-1) |
First round |
1979 UEFA Cup |
|
Dinamo Tbilisi (USSR) |
2-0; 0-1 (2-1) |
Second round |
(Europa League) |
|
Esbjerg (Denmark) |
4-1 ; 1-2 (5-2) |
Third round |
|
|
Dukla Prague (Czechslovakia) |
1-1 ; 2-1 (3-2) |
1/4 final |
|
|
Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia) |
2-1 ; 0-1 (2-2) lost on away goal |
Semifinal |
|
-
Last performance in Europe: group stage in 2018
UEFA Europa League
Heinz Von Haiden Arena,
Hanover
This venue was previously known as Niedersachsenstadion and
has been the home of Hanover 96, the Lower Saxony-based club which has been
competing in Bundesliga 2 since 2019. It is one of the most frequently used German
stadium in major tournaments. However, Hanover’s home turf is excluded for the
upcoming EURO 2024 later, despite having hosted three international
competitions before.
Stadium details
-
Built: 1954
-
Capacity: 49,200
-
Previous name: HDI Arena (2013-2022), AWD Arena
(2002-2013)
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Uruguay vs Holland 0-2 |
Group stage 1 |
1974 FIFA World Cup |
|
Uruguay vs Bulgaria 1-1 |
|
|
|
Brasil vs East Germany 1-0 |
Group stage 2 |
|
|
Argentina vs Brasil 1-2 |
|
|
|
Denmark vs Spain 2-3 |
Group stage |
EURO 1988 |
|
Ireland vs USSR 1-1 |
|
|
|
Italy vs Ghana 2-0 |
Group stage |
2006 FIFA World Cup |
|
Mexico vs Angola 0-0 |
|
|
|
Costa Rica vs Poland 1-2 |
|
|
|
Switzerland vs South Korea 2-0 |
|
|
|
Spain vs France 1-3 |
Round of 16 |
|
-
Nickname: Die Roten
-
Established: 1896
-
Notable silverwares: two German top flight
titles (1938, 1954) ; one German cup title (1992)
-
Best performance in Europe:
|
Opponents |
Scores
(home ; away (total aggregate) |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Sevilla (Spain) |
2-1 ; 1-1 (3-2) |
Playoff |
|
|
Standard Liege (Belgium) |
0-0; 0-2 |
Group stage |
Europa League 2012 |
|
FC Copenhagen (Denmark) |
2-2 ; 2-1 |
|
|
|
Vorskla Poltava (Ukraine) |
3-1 ; 2-1 |
|
|
|
Club Brugge (Belgium) |
2-1 ; 1-0 (3-1) |
Round of 32 |
|
|
Standard Liege (Belgium) |
4-0 ; 2-2 (6-2) |
Round of 16 |
|
|
Atletico Madrid (Spain) |
1-2 ; 1-2 (2-4) |
1/4 final |
|
-
Last performance in Europe: Round of 32 in 2013
UEFA Europa League
Merkur Spiel-Arena,
Dusseldorf
This is one of the venue for the upcoming EURO 2024. It is a
new stadium to replace the old one located on the exact same site,
Rheinstadion. Fortuna Dusseldorf, currently playing in the second tier after
their relegation in 2020, is the prime tenant of this venue. Yet, it was also
utilized as the home turf of two other teams, Bayer Leverkusen in the 2008/09
season and KFC Uerdingen, a team in the fifth tier back in 2019/20.
Stadium details
-
Built: 2002-2004
-
Capacity: 54,600
-
Previous name: Esprit Arena (2009-2018), LTU
Arena (2004-2009), Rheinstadion (1925-2002)
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Sweden vs Bulgaria 0-0 |
Group stage 1 |
1974 FIFA World Cup |
|
Sweden vs Uruguay 3-0 |
|
|
|
Yugoslavia vs West Germany 0-2 |
Group stage 2 |
|
|
Sweden vs West Germany 2-4 |
|
|
|
Sweden vs Yugoslavia 2-1 |
|
|
|
West Germany vs Italy 1-1 |
Group stage |
EURO 1988 |
|
England vs Holland 1-3 |
|
|
|
Dinamo Tbilisi vs Carl Zeiss Jena 2-1 |
Final |
UEFA Cup Winners Cup 1981 |
|
Austria vs France |
Group stage |
EURO 2024 |
|
Slovakia vs - |
|
|
|
Albania vs Spain |
|
|
|
|
Round of 16 |
|
|
|
1/4 final |
|
-
Nickname: Fortunen
-
Established: 1895
-
Notable silverwares: one German top flight title
(1933) ; two German cup titles (1979, 1980)
-
Best performance in Europe:
|
Opponents |
Scores
(home ; away (total aggregate) |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Universitatea Craiova (Romania) |
4-3 ; 1-1 (5-4) |
First round |
Winners Cup 1979 |
|
Aberdeen (Scotland) |
3-0; 0-2 (3-2) |
Second round |
|
|
Servette (Switzerland) |
0-0; 1-1 (1-1 away goal win) |
1/4 final |
|
|
Banik Ostrava (Czechoslovakia) |
3-1 ; 1-2 (4-3) |
Semifinal |
|
|
Barcelona (Spain) |
3-4 (aet) |
Final |
|
-
Last performance in Europe: quarterfinal in 1981
UEFA Winners Cup
La Rosaleda, Malaga
This venue belongs to Malaga CF, the team in Premiera
Federacion or the third tier in Spanish football pyramid. It has been used for
staging three matches in 1982 FIFA World Cup and is likely to be utilized again
in 2030 FIFA World Cup, despite the fact that club has been slowly declining
since their relegation from the top flight in 2018.
Stadium details
-
Built: 1936-1941
-
Capacity: 30,044
-
Previous name: -
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Scotland vs New Zealand 5-2 |
Group stage 1 |
1982 FIFA World Cup |
|
USSR vs New Zealand 3-0 |
|
|
|
USSR vs Scotland 2-2 |
|
|
-
Nickname: Los Albicelestes
-
Established: 1948
-
Notable silverwares: one UEFA Intertoto Cup
(2002)
-
Best performance in Europe:
|
Opponents |
Scores
(home ; away (total aggregate) |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Panathinaikos (Greece) |
2-0 ; 0-0 (3-2) |
Playoff |
|
|
Zenit St.Petersburg (Russia) |
3-0; 2-2 |
Group stage |
UCL 2013 |
|
Anderlecht (Belgium) |
3-0 ; 2-2 |
|
|
|
AC Milan (Italy) |
1-0 ; 1-1 |
|
|
|
FC Porto (Portugal) |
0-1 ; 2-0 (2-1) |
Round of 16 |
|
|
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) |
0-0 ; 2-3 (6-2) |
1/4 final |
|
-
Last performance in Europe: quarterfinal in 2013
UEFA Champions League
El Molinon, Gijon
El Molinon is located in Principality of Asturias and the
home of Sporting Gijon, which currently plays in Segunda Division. The club has
never had any notable silverwares in their collection and has been stuck in the
second tier since 2017. The stadium, one the other hand, could be selected to
host the games in 2030 FIFA World Cup after previously holding three games in
1982 FIFA World Cup.
Stadium details
-
Built: 1908
-
Capacity: 29,371
-
Previous name: -
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
West Germany vs Algeria 1-2 |
Group stage 1 |
1982 FIFA World Cup |
|
West Germany vs Chile 4-1 |
|
|
|
West Germany vs Austria 1-0 |
|
|
-
Nickname: Rojiblancos
-
Established: 1905
-
Notable silverwares: -
-
Best performance in Europe:
|
Opponents |
Scores
(home ; away (total aggregate) |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Torino (Italy) |
3-0 ; 0-1 (3-1) |
Round of 64 |
UEFA Cup 1979 |
|
Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia) |
0-1; 1-1 (1-2) |
Round of 32 |
|
|
Partizan Belgrade (Yugoslavia) |
2-0 ; 0-2 (3-2 pen) |
Round of 64 |
UEFA Cup 1992 |
|
Steaua Bucharest (Romania) |
2-2 ; 0-1 (2-3) |
Round of 32 |
|
-
Last performance in Europe: Round of 32 in 1992
UEFA Cup
Stadium De Toulouse,
Toulouse
This stadium has been frequently used in major tournaments
despite the fact that it is the homebase of the small side, Toulouse FC. They have
just promoted to Ligue 1 in 2022 and currently owned by RedBird Capital Partners,
which also owned the major shares of AC Milan. This venue has been the
important part of French football history.
Stadium details
-
Built: 1937
-
Capacity: 33,150
-
Previous name: Stadium Municipal
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Cameroon vs Austria 1-1 |
Group stage |
1998 FIFA World Cup |
|
Argentina vs Japan 1-0 |
|
|
|
South Africa vs Denmark 1-1 |
|
|
|
Romania vs England 2-1 |
|
|
|
Nigeria vs Paraguay 1-3 |
|
|
|
Holland vs Yugoslavia 2-1 |
Round of 16 |
|
|
Spain vs Czechia 1-0 |
Group stage |
EURO 2016 |
|
Italy vs Sweden 1-0 |
|
|
|
Russia vs Wales 0-3 |
|
|
|
Hungary vs Belgium 0-4 |
Round of 16 |
|
-
Nickname: Le Tef
-
Established: 1970
-
Notable silverwares: one French Cup (2023)
-
Best performance in Europe:
|
Opponents |
Scores
(home ; away (total aggregate) |
Stage |
Competition |
|
Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) |
0-0 ; 1-1 |
Group stage |
Europa League 2024 |
|
LASK (Austria) |
1-0 ; 2-1 |
|
|
|
Liverpool (England) |
3-2 ; 1-5 |
|
|
|
Benfica (Portugal) |
- |
Playoff |
|
-
Last performance in Europe: 2023/24 Europa
League
San Nicola, Bari
Last but not least, there is a legendary stadium in Bari. San
Nicola stadium was not only selected to hold a number of games in 1990 World Cup
but also UEFA Champions Cup final in 1991. In fact, it has been renovated and can be included in one
of the venues for EURO 2032 later.
Unfortunately, the main tenant, SSC Bari, is playing in
Serie B. They have undergone bankruptcy more than once and been unable to
return to Serie A since their relegation in 2011. The club, which has not yet
clinched a notable titles nor made their continental debut, is currently owned
by the son of Napoli owner, Aurelio de Laurentiis.
Stadium details
-
Built: 1990
-
Capacity: 58,270
-
Previous name: -
-
Games in major tournaments:
|
Match |
Stage |
Competition |
|
USSR vs Romania 0-2 |
Group stage |
1990 FIFA World Cup |
|
Cameroon vs Romania 2-1 |
|
|
|
Cameroon vs USSR 0-4 |
|
|
|
Czechoslovakia vs Costa Rica 4-1 |
Round of 16 |
|
|
Italy vs England 2-1 |
Third place playoff |
|
|
Red Star Belgrade vs Marseille 0-0 (5-3
pen) |
Final |
UCL 1991 |
-
Nickname: I Galletti
-
Established: 2018 (previously it was named FC
Bari 1908)
-
Notable silverwares: -
-
Best performance in Europe: -
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