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The Minnows’ Stadiums Frequently Selected for Major Competitions (Part 2)

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Several huge stadiums which belong to the small teams in South America have been surprisingly used for major tournaments frequently.

South America's biggest stadiums are not only dominated by huge teams with long histories or a plethora of silverwares, but they also serve as the home base for smaller teams. These venues are not only situated in the three major nations in the region which have been the world cup winners, Brasil and Argentina, but also elsewhere. Unlike the ones in Europe, which have been discussed in the part 1, those stadiums are mainly owned of the state government, city council or private company instead of solely owned by the local teams. They are merely the tenant of the sites. Some even have to share the venues with the other teams as well.

Here are the large venues that have been the minnow's home base yet are frequently used for global or regional important competitions.

Mané Garrincha, Brasilia

This stadium is one of the most important stadiums in the country. Located in the capital city, it is surely chosen for significant global and regional competitions such as the World Cup and Copa America. The stadium, now known as Arena BRB, is Brazil's second largest and has hosted performances by a variety of international artists, including Guns N' Roses, Linkin Park, and Beyonce. Legião FC, a third-tier Brasilian football league team, is among its tenants.

Stadium details:

-          Built in 1974

-          Capacity: 69, 910

-          Previous name: Estádio Governador Hélio Prates da Silveira (1970s-1980s)

                                 Estádio Nacional de Brasília Mané Garrincha (1980s – 2019)

-          Games in major tournaments:

Match

Stage

Competition

Brasil vs Japan 3-0

Group stage

2013 FIFA Confederation Cup

Switzerland vs Ecuador 2-1

Group stage

2014 FIFA World Cup

Colombia vs Ivory Coast 2-1

 

 

Cameroon vs Brasil 1-4

 

 

Portugal vs Ghana 2-1

 

 

France vs Nigeria 2-0

Round of 16

 

Argentina vs Belgium 1-0

Quarter final

 

Brasil vs Netherlands 0-3

3rd place playoff

 

Iraq vs Denmark 0-0

Group stage

2016 Summer Olympics

Brasil vs South Africa 0-0

 

 

Denmark vs South Africa 1-0

 

 

Brasil vs Iraq 0-0

 

 

Argentina vs Honduras 1-1

 

 

South Korea vs Mexico 1-0

 

 

Portugal vs Germany 0-4

Quarter final

 

Brasil vs Venezuela 3-0

Group stage

Copa America 2021

Argentina vs Uruguay 1-0

 

 

Chile vs Paraguay 0-2

 

 

Venezuela vs Peru 0-1

 

 

Uruguay vs Colombia 0-0 (2-4 pen)

Quarter final

 

Argentina vs Colombia 1-1 (3-2 pen)

Semifinal

 

Colombia vs Peru 3-2

3rd place playoff

 

    

Club details:

-          Nickname: Leao

-          Established: 2006

-          Notable silverwares: -

-          Best performance in the continent: -

Arena da Amazônia, Manaus

This venue is located in the city of Manaus, which is fairly close to Amazon forest. It was built for hosting 2014 World Cup and 2016 summer Olympics, despite the public’s criticism. There are two clubs which have been using this stadium regularly, Nacional and Amazonas. However, neither of them compete in the Brasilian top flight. The former is currently in the fourth tier of Brasilian football pyramid whereas the latter is playing in Serie B, the national second tier.

Stadium details

-          Built: 2010-14

-          Capacity: 42,924

-          Previous name: Vivaldao

-          Games in major tournaments:

Match

Stage

Competition

England vs Italy 1-2

Group stage

2014 FIFA World Cup

Cameroon vs Croatia 0-4

 

 

USA vs Portugal 2-2

 

 

Honduras vs Switzerland 0-3

 

 

Sweden vs Colombia 2-2

Group stage

2016 Summer Olympics

Nigeria vs Japan 5-4

 

 

Sweden vs Nigeria 0-1

 

 

Japan vs Colombia 2-2

 

 

 Club details:

Nacional

-          Nickname: Naça

-          Established: 1913

-          Notable silverwares: -

-          Best performance in the continent: -

Amazonas FC

-          Nickname: Onça-Pintada 

-          Established: 2019

-          Notable silverwares: -

-          Best performance in the continent: -

Arena Pantanal, Cuaiba

This venue is relatively new as it was built for 2014 FIFA World Cup. Owned by State of Mato Grosso, Arena Pantanal can be used for various purpose apart from football. So far, it has hosted two major international tournaments. Cuaiba FC and Mixto are the main tenant of the site. They compete in Brasilian Serie A and Serie D respectively.

Stadium details

-          Built: 2010

-          Capacity: 42,788

-          Previous name: -

-          Games in major tournaments:

Match

Stage

Competition

Chile vs Australia 3-1

Group stage

2014 FIFA World Cup

Russia vs South Korea 1-1

 

 

Nigeria vs Bosnia Herzegovina 1-0

 

 

Japan vs Colombia 1-4

 

 

Colombia vs Ecuador 1-0

Group stage

Copa America 2021

Chile vs Bolivia 1-0

 

 

Uruguay vs Chile 1-1

 

 

Bolivia vs Uruguay 0-2

 

 

Bolivia vs Argentina 1-4

 

 

 Club details:

Cuaiba FC

-          Nickname: Dourado

-          Established: 2001

-          Notable silverwares: -

-          Best performance in the continent:-


Estadio José María Minella, Mar Del Plata

This stadium was built on the eve of 1978 FIFA World Cup. It has been one of the stadiums in Argentina located outside the capital chosen for a one-off final in the global competition. However, it is not owned by the big team but the Municipality of General Pueyrredón, where the city of Mar del Plata located. It has been the homebase of Aldosivi, the team in the second tier of Argentina football.

Stadium details:

-          Built: 1975-78

-          Capacity: 35,180

-          Previous name: -

-          Games in major tournaments:

Match

Stage

Competition

Italy vs France 2-1

Group stage 1

1978 FIFA World Cup

Brasil vs Sweden 1-1

 

 

Italy vs Hungary 3-1

 

 

Brasil vs Spain 0-0

 

 

France vs Hungary 3-1

 

 

Brasil vs Austria 1-0

 

 

Ghana vs Paraguay 2-1

Group stage

2001 FIFA U20 World Cup

Iran vs France 0-5

 

 

France vs Paraguay 2-2

 

 

Iran vs Ghana 0-1

 

 

Ghana vs France 0-0

 

 

Paraguay vs Iran 2-0

 

 

Ghana vs Ecuador 1-0

Round of 16

 

Argentina vs Denmark 1-1 (5-4 pen)

 

UEFA-Conmebol Cup of Champions

 Club details:

-          Nickname: Tiburon

-          Established: 1913

-          Notable silverwares: -

-          Best performance in the continent: -

Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza

This stadium was also erected on the eve of 1978 FIFA World Cup. Since then, it has been frequently used for a number of major international competitions. This venue has been utilized for other events than football matches such as rugby matches and music concerts. Four clubs have been sharing this venue as their homebase, Godoy Cruz, Independiente Rivadavia, San Martin de Mendoza and Huracan Las Heras. The first two are in the Argentina’s top flight, while the last two are competing in the third level of the country’s football league system. Yet, only Godoy Cruz is the only well-known one.

Stadium details

-          Built: 1976-1978

-          Capacity: 42,000

-          Previous name: -

-          Games in major tournaments:

Match

Stage

Competition

Netherlands vs Iran 3-0

Group stage 1

1978 FIFA World Cup

Netherlands vs Peru 0-0

 

 

Scotland vs Netherlands 3-2

 

 

Brasil vs Peru 3-0

Group stage 2

 

Peru vs Poland 0-1

 

 

Brasil vs Poland 3-1

 

 

USA vs China 0-1

Group stage

2001 FIFA U20 World Cup

Chile vs Ukraine 2-4

 

 

Ukraine vs China 0-0

 

 

Chile vs USA 1-4

 

 

USA vs Ukraine 1-1

 

 

China vs Chile 0-1

 

 

Ukraine vs Paraguay 1-2

Round of 16

 

Uruguay vs Chile 1-1

Group stage

Copa America 2001

Peru vs Mexico 1-0

 

 

Chile vs Peru 1-1

 

 

 Club details:

Godoy Cruz

-          Nickname: Tomba Expreso

-          Established: 1921

-          Notable silverwares:

-          Best performance in the continent:

Opponents

Scores (home ; away (total aggregate)

Stage

Competition

Atletico Mineiro (Brasil)

1-1 ; 1-4

Group stage

2017 Copa Libertadores

Libertad (Paraguay)

1-1 ; 2-1

 

 

Sport Boys (Bolivia)

2-0 ; 3-1

 

 

Gremio (Brasil)

0-1 ; 1-2

Round of 16

 

-          Last performance in the continent: second stage of 2024 Copa Libertadores qualifiers

Estadio Ester Roa, Concepcion

This is the only homebase of small team outside Brasil and Argentina which has been frequently used to host major tournaments at all level of competition. This venue’s tenants are Universidad de Concepcion, Fernandez Vial and Deportes Concepcion. All of them are playing in the second tier of Chilean football league system. However, only Universidad de Concepcion is relatively well-known compared to the other two. Beside for football, Estadio Ester Roa has been selected to host music concerts and athletics tournaments.

Stadium details

-          Built: 1962

-          Capacity: 30,448

-          Previous name: Estadio Municipal de Concepcion

-          Games in major tournaments:

Match

Stage

Competition

Chile vs Peru 4-2

First roud

Copa America 1991

Argentina vs Paraguay 4-1

 

 

Brasil vs Paraguay 1-1 (3-4 pen)

Quarterfinal

Copa America 2015

Argentina vs Paraguay 6-1

Semifinal

 

Peru vs Paraguay 2-0

3rd place playoff

 

Brasil vs Nigeria 4-0

Group stage

1987 FIFA U20 World Cup

Italy vs Canada 2-2

 

 

Brasil vs Italy 0-1

 

 

Nigeria vs Canada 2-2

 

 

Brasil vs Canada 1-0

 

 

Nigeria vs Italy 0-2

 

 

Italy vs Chile 0-1

Quarterfinal

 

Chile vs Germany 0-4

Semifinal

 

South Africa vs Costa Rica 1-2

Group stage

2015 FIFA U17 World Cup

North Korea vs Russia 0-2

 

 

South Africa vs North Korea 1-1

 

 

Russia vs Costa Rica 1-1

 

 

Russia vs South Africa 2-0

 

 

Croatia vs Germany 2-0

Round of 16

 

Russia vs Ecuador 1-4

 

 

Belgium vs Costa Rica 1-0

Quarterfinal

 

Mexico vs Nigeria 2-4

Semifinal

 

 Club details:

-          Nickname: El Campanil

-          Established: 1994

-          Notable silverwares: Copa Chile (2009, 2015)

-          Best performance in the continent :

Opponents

Scores (home ; away (total aggregate)

Stage

Competition

Godoy Cruz (Argentina)

0-0 ; 0-1

Group stage

2019 Copa Libertadores

Sporting Cristal (Peru)

5-4; 0-2

 

 

Olimpia (Paraguay)

3-3; 1-1

 

 

-          Last performance in the continent: group stage in 2019 Copa Libertadores


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