Estádio da Luz facts for kids
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| Full name | Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica |
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| Address | Av. Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, 1500-313 |
| Location | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Coordinates | 38°45′10″N 9°11′05″W / 38.7527°N 9.1847°W |
| Public transit |  [[|Azul]] at Alto dos Moinhos [[|Azul]] at Colégio Militar/Luz |
| Owner | Benfica |
| Operator | Benfica |
| Executive suites | 156 |
| Capacity | 68,100 |
| Record attendance | Official match: 64,591 (13 May 2017) All-time: 65,400 (25 October 2003) |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2003 |
| Opened | 25 October 2003 |
| Construction cost | €160 million |
| Architect | HOK Sport (now Populous) |
| Tenants | |
| Benfica (2003–present) Benfica B (2003–2006, 2012–2013) Benfica women (2018–present; selected matches) Portugal national football team (selected matches) |
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The Estádio da Luz is a famous stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. Its official name is Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica. It is mainly used for football matches. This stadium is the home ground for the Portuguese club Benfica, which also owns it.
The stadium opened on October 25, 2003. It replaced an older stadium, also called Estádio da Luz, which had 120,000 seats. The new stadium has a seating capacity of 68,100. It was designed by HOK Sport (now Populous) and cost €160 million to build. Part of the cost was supported by the Portuguese government for the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament.
Estádio da Luz is a top-rated stadium by UEFA, the European football governing body. It is also the biggest stadium in Portugal. It hosted several matches during UEFA Euro 2004, including the final game. It also hosted the Champions League finals in 2014 and 2020. In 2014, it was voted the most beautiful stadium in Europe in an online poll. By its fifteenth birthday, over 17 million fans had visited the stadium. It is also a possible venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Portugal will co-host.
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What's in a Name? The Story of Estádio da Luz
The stadium's official name is "Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica." However, everyone calls it "Estádio da Luz." The word Luz comes from the neighborhood where the stadium is built. This area is named after a nearby church, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Luz (Church of Our Lady of Light).
People in Lisbon simply called the area "a Luz" (the Light). So, the stadium became known as "Estádio da Luz." Sometimes, it is translated to "Stadium of Light." But Luz actually refers to the original street name, Estrada da Luz (Road of Light), not just the word for "light."
Stadium Design and Features
The architect, Damon Lavelle, designed the Estádio da Luz to be bright and open. Its roof is made of a special material that lets sunlight shine through. This helps to light up the stadium naturally. The roof is held up by four steel arches, which are 43 meters (141 feet) high. These arches give the stadium its unique wavy look.
The stadium's seating capacity was increased to nearly 66,000 in June 2024. This was done by adding 950 seats for people with disabilities. In July 2025, after more renovations, the capacity reached 68,100 spectators.
Exciting Sports Events at the Stadium
First Game: A Winning Start
The Estádio da Luz opened with an exciting match on October 25, 2003. Benfica played against Club Nacional from Uruguay. Benfica won the game 2–1. Nuno Gomes scored the very first goal in the new stadium.
Hosting the UEFA Euro 2004 Final
One of the biggest events at the stadium was the UEFA Euro 2004 Final on July 4, 2004. Portugal played against Greece in this important match. Greece won the final 1–0.
UEFA Champions League Finals
The stadium has hosted two UEFA Champions League finals.
- In 2014, Real Madrid played against Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid won 4–1 after extra time.
- In 2020, Paris Saint-Germain played against Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich won 1–0.
Highest Attendance for an Official Match
On May 13, 2017, the Estádio da Luz saw its largest crowd for an official match. A total of 64,591 fans watched Benfica play against Vitória de Guimarães. Benfica won 5–0 and became national champions for the fourth year in a row.
Portugal National Team Matches
The Portugal national football team has played many matches at the Estádio da Luz. These include games for the UEFA Euro and FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as well as friendly matches. The stadium is an important venue for the national team.
| Date | Score | Opponent | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 June 2004 | 2–0 |  Russia |
Euro 2004 Group Stage |
| 24 June 2004 | 2–2 |  England |
Euro 2004 Quarter-Finals |
| 4 July 2004 | 0–1 |  Greece |
Euro 2004 Final |
| 4 June 2005 | 2–0 |  Slovakia |
2006 World Cup qualification |
| 8 September 2007 | 2–2 |  Poland |
Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 10 October 2009 | 3–0 |  Hungary |
2010 World Cup qualification |
| 14 November 2009 | 1–0 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
2010 World Cup UEFA play-offs |
| 17 November 2010 | 4–0 |  Spain |
Friendly |
| 4 June 2011 | 1–0 |  Norway |
Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 15 November 2011 | 6–2 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs |
| 2 June 2012 | 1–3 |  Turkey |
Friendly |
| 7 June 2013 | 1–0 | Russia |
2014 World Cup qualification |
| 15 November 2013 | 1–0 |  Sweden |
2014 World Cup UEFA play-offs |
| 29 March 2015 | 2–1 |  Serbia |
Euro 2016 qualifying |
| 8 June 2016 | 7–0 |  Estonia |
Friendly |
| 25 March 2017 | 3–0 | Hungary |
2018 World Cup qualification |
| 10 October 2017 | 2–0 |  Switzerland |
2018 World Cup qualification |
| 7 June 2018 | 3–0 |  Algeria |
Friendly |
| 10 September 2018 | 1–0 |  Italy |
2018–19 UEFA Nations League |
| 22 March 2019 | 0–0 |  Ukraine |
Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 25 March 2019 | 1–1 | Serbia |
Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 11 November 2020 | 7–0 |  Andorra |
Friendly |
| 14 November 2020 | 0–1 |  France |
2020–21 UEFA Nations League |
| 14 November 2021 | 1–2 | Serbia |
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 June 2023 | 3–0 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 5 September 2024 | 2–1 |  Croatia |
2024–25 UEFA Nations League |
| 8 September 2024 | 2–1 |  Scotland |
2024–25 UEFA Nations League |
Beyond Football: Other Events
The Estádio da Luz is not just for football! It also hosts many other exciting events.
Special Ceremonies
- On July 7, 2007, the stadium hosted the announcement of the New 7 Wonders of the World. About 50,000 people attended this special event.
Concerts and Music Shows
Many famous musicians have performed at the Estádio da Luz.
- Ed Sheeran performed two shows in June 2019, with over 120,000 fans attending.
- Rammstein rocked the stadium in June 2023 for 50,000 people.
- Taylor Swift brought her "The Eras Tour" to the stadium in May 2024, drawing 120,000 fans over two nights.
- Imagine Dragons is scheduled to perform in June 2025.
- Bad Bunny is scheduled to perform in May 2026.
Religious Gatherings
The stadium has also been a place for large religious meetings.
- In June 2019, the International Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses held their "Love Never Fails" event, with 63,390 attendees.
- In August 2023, the World Youth Day event called "The Change" gathered 44,000 people.
See also
In Spanish: Estádio da Luz para niños
- List of football stadiums in Portugal
- Lists of stadiums
