The ten largest permanent stadiums on Earth, ranked by total capacity — from North Korea's 113,000-seat colossus down to France's 81,338-seat national stadium.
Updated August 20, 202610 ranked4 sources
Quick answer: 1. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, 2. Melbourne Cricket Ground, 3. Camp Nou, 4. FNB Stadium, 5. Wembley Stadium, 6. Rose Bowl, 7. Estadio Azteca, 8. Bukit Jalil National Stadium, 9. MetLife Stadium, 10. Stade de France.
This is a ranking of the ten largest stadiums in the world, measured by official listed total capacity (including both seating and permanent standing areas). It covers all types of venues — from association football cathedrals in Europe and South America to multi-purpose grounds in Asia and Africa, Australia's iconic MCG, and America's largest NFL and college football venues.
Unlike lists focused solely on sports stadiums, this ranking casts a wider net: it includes every permanent stadium regardless of its primary use, whether that's international football, cricket, American football, rugby, athletics, or mass events. The result is a genuinely global top ten spanning six continents, with capacities ranging from 81,338 to 113,281.
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Seating capacity
Seating capacity
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
113281 seats
Melbourne Cricket Ground
100024 seats
Camp Nou
99354 seats
FNB Stadium
94736 seats
Wembley Stadium
90000 seats
Rose Bowl
89702 seats
Estadio Azteca
87523 seats
Bukit Jalil National Stadium
87500 seats
MetLife Stadium
82500 seats
Stade de France
81338 seats
The ranking
1
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
The largest stadium in the world outside India's Narendra Modi Stadium, Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is North Korea's showpiece venue on an island in the Taedong River. Built in 1989 with an original stated capacity of 150,000, it was renovated in 2014 to replace bench seating with individual seats, bringing the official figure to 113,281. It hosts the Arirang Mass Games, football matches, and athletics events.
Location: Pyongyang, North KoreaOpened: 1989Primary use: Multi-purpose / mass gamesTenant/City: North Korea national football team
2
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The MCG is Australia's most iconic sports venue and the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. With a total capacity of 100,024 (95,000 seats plus 5,000 standing room), it serves as the home of Australian rules football and cricket, hosting the AFL Grand Final, Boxing Day Test, and major concerts. Opened in 1853, it has undergone numerous redevelopments over its 170+ year history.
Location: Melbourne, AustraliaOpened: 1853Primary use: Cricket / Australian rules footballTenant/City: Melbourne Cricket Club / AFL tenants
3
Camp Nou
The largest stadium in Europe, Camp Nou (officially Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys during the 2023–24 renovation period) has been the home of FC Barcelona since 1957. With a capacity of 99,354, it has hosted two UEFA Champions League finals, the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and the 1992 Olympic football tournament. The stadium is currently undergoing a major renovation as part of the Espai Barça project, which will modernize facilities while preserving its iconic status.
Location: Barcelona, SpainOpened: 1957Primary use: Association footballTenant/City: FC Barcelona
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4
FNB Stadium
Also known as Soccer City or the Calabash, FNB Stadium is the largest stadium in Africa. Located in the Nasrec area of Johannesburg, it was extensively rebuilt and expanded for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where it hosted the opening match and the final. The stadium's distinctive shape was inspired by the African calabash gourd. It serves as the home of Kaizer Chiefs and hosts the South Africa national football and rugby teams.
Location: Johannesburg, South AfricaOpened: 1989Primary use: Association football / rugby unionTenant/City: Kaizer Chiefs / South Africa national teams
5
Wembley Stadium
The iconic arch of Wembley Stadium has defined London's skyline since the venue reopened in 2007, replacing the original 1923 stadium. With a capacity of 90,000, it is the largest stadium in the United Kingdom and the second-largest in Europe. The home of the England national football team, Wembley also hosts the FA Cup Final, the EFL Cup Final, rugby league's Challenge Cup Final, NFL London Games, and major concerts.
Location: London, United KingdomOpened: 2007Primary use: Association football / multi-purposeTenant/City: England national football team
6
Rose Bowl
A National Historic Landmark in Pasadena, California, the Rose Bowl opened in 1922 and has hosted five Super Bowls, the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, and the 1984 Olympic gold medal match. With an all-seated capacity of 89,702, it serves as the home of UCLA Bruins football and the annual Rose Bowl Game, college football's oldest and most prestigious bowl game.
Location: Pasadena, USAOpened: 1922Primary use: American football / soccerTenant/City: UCLA Bruins / Rose Bowl Game
7
Estadio Azteca
One of the most historic stadiums in world football, Estadio Azteca in Mexico City has hosted two FIFA World Cup finals (1970 and 1986) and the 1968 Olympic football tournament. Opened in 1966, it is the home of Club América and the Mexico national team. With a capacity of 87,523, it is the largest stadium in Latin America and the only venue to have hosted two men's World Cup finals.
Location: Mexico City, MexicoOpened: 1966Primary use: Association footballTenant/City: Club América / Mexico national team
8
Bukit Jalil National Stadium
The largest stadium in Southeast Asia, Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur was built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Originally seating 100,000, a 2017 renovation reduced the capacity to 87,500 while adding modern amenities and a distinctive LED-lit facade. It serves as the home of the Malaysia national football team and hosts major athletics events and concerts.
Location: Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaOpened: 1998Primary use: Association football / athleticsTenant/City: Malaysia national football team
9
MetLife Stadium
The largest stadium in the NFL and the New York metropolitan area, MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 as the shared home of the New York Giants and New York Jets. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it has a capacity of 82,500 and hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. It will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.
Location: East Rutherford, USAOpened: 2010Primary use: American football / multi-purposeTenant/City: New York Giants / New York Jets
10
Stade de France
France's national stadium, built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, is located in Saint-Denis just north of Paris. With a capacity of 81,338 for football and rugby, it is the largest stadium in France. It has hosted three UEFA Champions League finals, two Rugby World Cups, and the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics athletics and closing ceremonies. The stadium's concert record of 100,080 was set in May 2026 by French rapper Jul.
Location: Saint-Denis, FranceOpened: 1998Primary use: Association football / rugby unionTenant/City: France national football & rugby teams
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Full comparison
#
Name
Location
Opened
Primary use
Tenant/City
1
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
Pyongyang, North Korea
1989
Multi-purpose / mass games
North Korea national football team
2
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne, Australia
1853
Cricket / Australian rules football
Melbourne Cricket Club / AFL tenants
3
Camp Nou
Barcelona, Spain
1957
Association football
FC Barcelona
4
FNB Stadium
Johannesburg, South Africa
1989
Association football / rugby union
Kaizer Chiefs / South Africa national teams
5
Wembley Stadium
London, United Kingdom
2007
Association football / multi-purpose
England national football team
6
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, USA
1922
American football / soccer
UCLA Bruins / Rose Bowl Game
7
Estadio Azteca
Mexico City, Mexico
1966
Association football
Club América / Mexico national team
8
Bukit Jalil National Stadium
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1998
Association football / athletics
Malaysia national football team
9
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, USA
2010
American football / multi-purpose
New York Giants / New York Jets
10
Stade de France
Saint-Denis, France
1998
Association football / rugby union
France national football & rugby teams
How we ranked this
Stadiums are ranked strictly by official total capacity (the maximum number of spectators the venue can normally accommodate, including both seating and permanent standing areas), highest to lowest. Only permanent, currently-operating stadiums are included; temporary structures, demolished venues, and motor racing circuits are excluded. Capacity figures come from Wikipedia's aggregated "List of stadiums by capacity," cross-checked against venue-specific Wikipedia articles and official stadium websites. Where a venue's official figure differs from independent estimates — as with Rungrado 1st of May Stadium — the discrepancy is noted. Capacities reflect standard, permanent configurations and do not account for temporary seating added for specific events.
FAQ
What is the largest stadium in the world?
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, is the world's largest stadium with an official capacity of 132,000. However, it is a cricket-specific venue and is not included in this list of mixed-use stadiums. The largest stadium on this list is North Korea's Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, which seats 113,281.
Why don't American college football stadiums appear on this list?
They do appear in the full global ranking, but this list specifically highlights the most iconic and globally recognized stadiums across all types of use. The largest U.S. college football venues — such as Michigan Stadium (107,601), Beaver Stadium (106,572), and Ohio Stadium (102,780) — are among the world's largest stadiums by capacity, but this list focuses on venues with broader international recognition and multi-purpose use.
Which stadium on this list is the oldest?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is by far the oldest, having opened in 1853. It has been continuously in use for over 170 years, making it one of the most historic sporting venues in the world. The newest stadium on the list is MetLife Stadium, which opened in 2010.
How many of these stadiums have hosted a FIFA World Cup final?
Five of the ten stadiums on this list have hosted a FIFA World Cup final: Estadio Azteca (1970, 1986), Camp Nou (1982), Rose Bowl (1994), Stade de France (1998), and FNB Stadium (2010). Wembley and MetLife have hosted major finals in other sports — Wembley has hosted UEFA European Championship finals and MetLife will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.