Luzhniki Stadium facts for kids
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| Full name | Luzhniki Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Central Lenin Stadium (1956–1992) |
| Public transit |  Sportivnaya Vorobyovy Gory Luzhniki |
| Owner | Government of Moscow |
| Operator | Luzhniki Olympic Sport Complex JSC |
| Capacity | 81,000 (60,000 with proposed extra platform for athletics) |
| Record attendance | 102,538 (Soviet Union–Italy, 13 October 1963) |
| Field size | 105 by 68 metres (114.8 yd × 74.4 yd) |
| Surface | SISGrass (Hybrid Grass) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1955 |
| Opened | 31 July 1956 |
| Renovated |
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| Construction cost | €350 million (2013–2017) |
| Architect | PA Arena, Gmp Architekten and Mosproject-4 |
| Tenants | |
| Russia national football team (selected matches) FC Torpedo Moscow (since 2022) |
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| Website | |
| 55°42′56″N 37°33′13″E / 55.71556°N 37.55361°E | |
The Luzhniki Stadium is a huge sports arena in Moscow, the capital city of Russia. It is Russia's national stadium and the biggest football stadium in the country. With seats for 81,000 people, it is also one of the largest stadiums in Europe.
Luzhniki Stadium is part of a bigger sports area called the Luzhniki Olympic Complex. The name "Luzhniki" means "The Meadows" because it was built on grassy fields near the Moskva River.
This stadium has hosted many important events. It was the main stadium for the 1980 Summer Olympics, where it held the opening and closing ceremonies. It also hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening match and the final game. Big football matches, concerts, and other sports events happen here regularly.
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Where is Luzhniki Stadium?
The stadium is in the southwest part of Moscow, not far from the city center. It sits in a bend of the Moskva River. The area was chosen because it was a large, green space. It was also easy to reach from different parts of the city.
Architects who designed the stadium loved the location. They said it had fresh air and was close to the river. This made it perfect for a big sports complex.
The Playing Field
For a while, Luzhniki Stadium used an artificial grass field. This type of field is made of fake grass. However, for big games like the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final, a real grass field was put in.
In 2016, a special type of grass was installed. It is a "hybrid turf," which means it's mostly natural grass but has plastic fibers mixed in. This makes the field stronger and more durable.
Stadium History
Building the Stadium
The idea for Luzhniki Stadium started in 1954. Soviet athletes had done very well in the 1952 Summer Olympics. The government wanted a new, modern sports complex. This complex would help train Olympic athletes and host major competitions.
Construction began in 1955 and finished very quickly, in just 450 days. Many different parts of the Soviet Union helped build it. For example, wood for the seats came from Ukraine.
The stadium officially opened on July 31, 1956. It was first called the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium. A friendly football match between Russia and China marked its opening.
The 1980 Summer Olympics
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Between 1976 and 1979, the stadium was updated for the 1980 Summer Olympics. It became the main venue for these famous games. At that time, it could hold 103,000 spectators.
Luzhniki hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. It also held many sports events, including athletics and the football finals.
Changes in the 1990s and 2000s
In 1992, the stadium was renamed Luzhniki Olympic Complex. It also got a big makeover in 1996. A roof was added over the stands, and the seating areas were improved. These changes made the stadium even better for fans.
In 1999, Luzhniki hosted the 1999 UEFA Cup final. Then, in 2008, it hosted the 2008 UEFA Champions League final. This was a huge match between two English teams, Manchester United and Chelsea.
In 2013, the stadium hosted the 2013 World Championships in Athletics. This event brought top athletes from around the world to Moscow.
Ready for the FIFA World Cup
The stadium was largely rebuilt for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The old stadium was taken down in 2013. However, its famous roof and outer wall were kept. These parts were then connected to the new building. The renovation finished in 2017.
For the 2018 World Cup, the stadium's capacity grew to 81,000 seats. The running track around the field was removed to make more space for fans. Luzhniki hosted seven matches, including the opening game and the exciting final. FIFA even named it the best arena in the world in 2018.
Luzhniki Stadium is one of only a few stadiums in the world to host the finals of the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Summer Olympic Games.
Biggest Sports Events
Luzhniki Stadium has seen many incredible sports moments. Here are some of the biggest:
- 1956 – Summer Spartakiad (a large sports festival)
- 1957 – Ice Hockey World Championship
- 1973 – 1973 Summer Universiade (world university games)
- 1980 – 1980 Summer Olympics (opening, closing, athletics, football final)
- 1986 – 1986 Goodwill Games (opening ceremony)
- 1999 – 1999 UEFA Cup final
- 2008 – 2008 UEFA Champions League final
- 2013 – 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens
- 2013 – 2013 World Championships in Athletics
- 2018 – 2018 FIFA World Cup (opening match and final)
Concerts and Other Events
Beyond sports, Luzhniki Stadium has been a stage for many famous musicians and events:
- 1989 – The Moscow Music Peace Festival featured bands like Bon Jovi and Scorpions.
- 1993 – Michael Jackson performed his first concert in Russia here.
- 1998 – The Rolling Stones played their first show in Russia at Luzhniki.
- 2006 – Madonna performed as part of her Confessions Tour.
- 2010 – U2 held a concert during their U2 360° Tour.
- 2019 – Rammstein performed during their Stadium Tour.
Memorable Moments
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In 1957, a record 55,000 people watched the Ice Hockey World Championship final at Luzhniki. This was a world record for an ice hockey game at the time.
The stadium also appeared in the Russian movie Night Watch. In the film, the stadium lights go out during a match.
In 2008, Manchester United won their third European Cup title at Luzhniki. They beat Chelsea in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
| UEFA Champions League Finals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Attendance | ||
| 2007–08 | Manchester United  |
1–1 | Chelsea |
67,310 | ||
2018 FIFA World Cup Matches
Luzhniki Stadium was a key venue for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It hosted seven exciting games:
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 June 2018 | 18:00 |  Russia |
5–0 |  Saudi Arabia |
Group A (opening match) | 78,011 |
| 17 June 2018 | 18:00 |  Germany |
0–1 |  Mexico |
Group F | |
| 20 June 2018 | 15:00 |  Portugal |
1–0 |  Morocco |
Group B | |
| 26 June 2018 | 17:00 |  Denmark |
0–0 |  France |
Group C | |
| 1 July 2018 | 17:00 |  Spain |
1–1 (3–4 pen.) | Russia |
Round of 16 | |
| 11 July 2018 | 21:00 |  Croatia |
2–1 (aet) | England |
Semi-final | |
| 15 July 2018 | 18:00 | France |
4–2 | Croatia |
Final |
Safety During the World Cup
During the World Cup, safety was very important. Luzhniki had many checkpoints and entrances for fans. There were also 3,000 cameras and about 900 scanners to keep everyone safe. Special seats were available for fans with disabilities.
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Olímpico Luzhnikí para niños
