Centenario Stadium, officially known as Estadio Centenario, is a historic stadium situated in Montevideo, Uruguay. Primarily, it is utilized for association football matches, playing host to the home games of the Uruguayan National Team, and occasionally, the Peñarol and Nacional football clubs.
Officially inaugurated on 18 July 1930 during the first FIFA World Cup, Centenario Stadium replaced the Parque Central as the principal football ground in Uruguay. Originally, it accommodated nearly 90,000 spectators, but currently, its seating capacity is reduced to 60,235 due to various renovations and safety measures. Notable Uruguayan architect Juan Antonio Scasso was the mastermind behind the stadium's design, and its construction cost was approximately $1 million, a significant amount during that era.
Centenario Stadium holds the distinction of being a FIFA World Heritage Site, the only stadium worldwide to have this honor. It has been a venue for numerous crucial football events, including the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, where it hosted the final between Uruguay and Argentina. In addition to this, it has also been the venue for Copa America tournaments and numerous World Cup qualifiers. According to a poll conducted by the Uruguayan newspaper El País, Centenario Stadium was voted as the most iconic football stadium in South America. Till date, the stadium has welcomed millions of spectators, and is anticipated to be a potential venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, marking the centenary of both the tournament and the stadium.
While the previous stadium in Uruguay was also officially named 'Estadio Centenario', it is invariably referred to by its official name, Centenario Stadium. Centenario is the name of the stadium that was built to commemorate the centennial of Uruguay's first constitution. It is located in Parque Batlle, a neighborhood in Montevideo, which derived its name from the National Hero, Jose Batlle y Ordonez. This name caught on soon after the stadium's construction; the people of Uruguay used to simply call it El Centenario ('The Centenary'). Therefore, the stadium's official name is 'Estadio Centenario', which is usually anglicized to 'Centenario Stadium'. This translation is accurate, as Centenario refers to the 'Centenary' of the first constitution of Uruguay. The Centenario Stadium has a significant role in the history of football, as it was the main venue for the first FIFA World Cup held in 1930. It was declared by FIFA as the only historical monument of World Football, the only building of its kind worldwide. The stadium houses the Museo del Futbol, which is a museum exhibiting memorabilia of Uruguayan and international football. It has a capacity of approximately 75,000 spectators, but has accommodated up to 95,000 for certain matches. Over the years, Centenario Stadium has hosted numerous important events, including several Copa America finals, World Cup qualifiers, and it is the home ground for the Uruguayan National Team. It's not just a football stadium, it's a symbol of national pride and an emblem of football's rich history.
The Centenario Stadium is located in the Parque Batlle neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay. Its name 'Centenario' derives from the centennial of Uruguay's first constitution, which coincided with the inauguration of the stadium. It was initially built to host the 1930 FIFA World Cup and continues to be a significant venue for football events.
The ownership of the stadium lies with the Uruguayan Football Association, whose vision was to construct a monumental stadium commemorating a century of Uruguay's constitution. The idea for this historic sports complex was conceived in the late 1920s by architect Juan Antonio Scasso.
With the inspirational leadership of the then president of Uruguay, José Serrato, the construction of the stadium was made possible by the immense support and donations from the citizens of Uruguay. There were even initiatives like the 'brick campaign' where citizens contributed bricks towards the construction of the stadium. Some devoted fans and citizens also volunteered their labor on construction days.
The construction officially commenced on 21 July 1929. Despite facing numerous challenges including financial constraints and a strict timeline, the stadium was completed in less than a year. On 18 July 1930, the Centenario Stadium opened its doors to a crowd of 90,000 spectators for the inaugural match of the 1930 FIFA World Cup between Uruguay and Peru.
Estadio Centenario (1930): Information about the Centenario Stadium's history and significance in football. http://www.auf.org.uy/estadio-centenario-1930/
Estadio Centenario (El Templo del Fútbol) – until 2003: Comprehensive overview of Centenario Stadium, including photographs and key facts. http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/uru/estadio_centenario
El Centenario no se apaga: A book detailing the history of Centenario Stadium and its importance in Uruguayan football. https://www.amazon.com/El-Centenario-no-se-apaga/dp/9728820070
Uruguay Football Association 100 glorious years - The History 1: A book chronicling the 100-year history of Uruguayan football, including the creation of Centenario Stadium. https://www.amazon.com/Uruguay-Football-Association-glorious-years/dp/989554099X
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