Stadiums are not only architectural marvels but massive theaters of entertainment, celebration, and passion. Among the largest fifty stadiums in the world, half are found in the United States, about a quarter in Europe, and the remaining quarter is scattered in Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia. Noticeably, the largest stadiums in the world host American college football teams. This list does not include stadiums that are now-defunct, such as the Strahov Stadium in Prague, which has a total capacity of 56,000 when seated (or 250,000 while standing) but is today only used as a training center. 

Large Stadiums in the United States

The majority of the world’s largest stadiums are found in the US. Eight out of the top ten largest stadiums in the world are in the US where they play host to American football and baseball teams. Some of them are Michigan Stadium (107,601 people) in position two behind Rungrado, while Beaver Stadium (107,572), Kyle Field (102,733), and Neyland Stadium (102,455) complete the top five. In total, 25 stadiums among the top fifty are all in the US where they host American football and baseball games. The two sports demand larger playing area thereby providing for the construction of larger spectator areas on the fringes of the pitch. The two games are wildly popular in the US and hence the big stadiums to accommodate the thousands of fans who turn up at almost every game.

Sports Played in the Largest Stadiums

Gigantic stadiums are known to host rugby, cricket, and even martial arts festivals find their way into the list of the world’s largest stadiums. North Korea’s Rungrado 1st of May Stadium which is the world’s largest stadium with a capacity of 114,000 people hosts football games besides a festival called Arirang (gymnastic and artistic games). Australia’s Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) which hosts 100,024 people and is primarily a cricket ground comes in at number 10 among the world’s largest. Twickenham Stadium (82,000) in the United Kingdom mostly hosts rugby games and it comes in at position 30. Although soccer is the world’s most popular sport, it loses out in terms of its stadiums’ capacities. In total, only 14 stadiums know to host soccer make it to the top fifty, including Barcelona's Camp Nou (99,354), Johannesburg's Soccer City (94,736), and Mexico City's Estadio Azteca (87,000). 

Increasing Capacities

Stadiums in the US and Europe are also increasing their capacities. For instance, Tiger Stadium expanded from a 92,400 to 102,321 capacity while Texas’s Kyle stadium can accommodate almost 21,000 more people from the previous 82,000 person capacity after its expansion. Wembley Stadium which comes in at number 17 among the world’s largest, was expanded from a 40,000 to a 90,000 capacity stadium in 2003. Russia's Luzhiniki Stadium was expanded some years ago to the current capacity of 81,000.