Wembley Stadium is England’s national football stadium and the largest sports venue in the United Kingdom. Located in the London Borough of Brent, the current stadium opened on 19 May 2007 with the FA Cup Final, built on the same site as the legendary original Wembley Stadium that stood from 1923 to 2000. Designed by Populous and Foster and Partners at a cost of around £798 million, it seats 90,000 spectators — the second-largest stadium in Europe by capacity.
At the heart of the design is the soaring 134-metre Wembley Arch, the world’s longest unsupported single-span roof structure with a 315-metre span. Visible across much of London, the arch supports more than 75% of the entire roof load, making it both an engineering marvel and an instantly recognisable landmark. Owned by the Football Association, Wembley hosts England national team fixtures, domestic cup finals, UEFA finals, NFL international games, and some of the world’s biggest concerts.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Wembley, London Borough of Brent, England
- Team(s): England national football team; FA Cup & League Cup finalists
- Opened: 19 May 2007
- Capacity: 90,000 seats
- Arch Height: 134 metres (439 ft)
- Construction Cost: ~£798 million
- Owner: The Football Association
A Stage for Historic Moments
Since opening, Wembley has hosted some of the most memorable moments in world sport. The stadium staged the football events of the 2012 London Olympics and served as the centrepiece of UEFA Euro 2020, including the final between Italy and England. It has hosted three UEFA Champions League Finals — in 2011, 2013, and 2024 — and welcomes NFL regular-season games each autumn, underlining its remarkable versatility beyond domestic football.
The stadium carries the legacy of its predecessor, the 1923 Wembley, where England famously won the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Generation after generation, Wembley has functioned as the spiritual home of English football, the place where players and fans alike come to make history.
Engineering and Scale
The numbers behind Wembley are staggering. The stadium perimeter stretches one kilometre, the structure required over 4,000 foundation piles, and 56 kilometres of power cables run throughout the building. Wembley also features 2,618 toilets — more than any other venue in the world at the time of opening.
Every one of the 90,000 seats has an unobstructed sightline to the pitch, a deliberate design decision to maximise atmosphere. The playing surface is a GrassMaster semi-artificial pitch engineered to withstand the punishing schedule of events packed into the stadium’s year-round calendar.
Explore more: Famous Stadiums Around the World.
Wembley Stadium FAQs
What is the capacity of Wembley Stadium?
Wembley Stadium has a seating capacity of 90,000, making it the largest stadium in the United Kingdom and the second-largest in Europe by capacity.
When did the current Wembley Stadium open?
The current Wembley Stadium officially opened on 19 May 2007 with the FA Cup Final. It replaced the original Wembley Stadium, which was built in 1923 and demolished in 2003.
Who owns Wembley Stadium?
Wembley Stadium is owned by the Football Association (FA), the governing body of English football, whose headquarters are located within the stadium complex itself.
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Photo: Arne Müseler / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.