AC Milan Stadium San Siro
Located north-west of Milan’s center is the home stadium of AC Milan, which has been known as an Italian football institution in more ways than one.
It seats more than 80,000 fans on matchdays, making it the country’s largest stadium.
Known for its namesake location in which was built, the San Siro was officially named in 1980 after Giuseppe Meazza, in which he played for both AC and Inter during the pre-war years, during which he won two consecutive World Cups while representing the latter.
The third renovation in 1987-90 gave the stadium its identifiable look, with its eleven spiral walkway towers and its subsequent roofing and third superimposing the original stadium design.
Constructed in just ten months, the stadium was opened in 1926 with the first match being the Milan derby that bitter rivals from Inter won. Nine years after that, the city council became the owner of the stadium.
In 1947, the derby took up a higher notch when the Nerazzuri became tenants alongside the Rossoneri who were the original owners of the ground. Thus, both sets of supporters have their respective curvas behind the goal which became the battleground for the artistic tifos and choreos.
Since then, Milan had seen better days than their blue-blooded neighbors, as they have won more Scudetti and European Cups than Inter.
Apart from both Milan clubs, it has hosted matches in two World Cups that Italy hosted, and four European Cup/Champions League finals (1965, 1970, 2001, 2016). It’s notable moments including Cameroon’s opening day upset of then-defending champions Argentina to open Italia 90, as well as Spain breaking the Azzuri’s 37-match unbeaten run in the 2021 Nations League semifinal.
Besides football, it will serve as the Olympic venue for Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2026, as it will host the opening ceremonies in what will be the swansong for this legendary ground.