San Siro facts for kids
45°28′41″N 9°7′26″E / 45.47806°N 9.12389°E
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Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
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| Former names | Stadio Comunale di San Siro |
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| Address | Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 20151 |
| Location | Milan, Italy |
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| Owner | AC Milan (1926–1935) Municipality of Milan (1935–present) |
| Operator | M-I Stadio s.r.l. |
| Type | Stadium |
| Executive suites | 30 |
| Capacity | 75,817 (limited capacity) 80,018 (maximum) |
| Field size | 105 m × 68 m |
| Surface | GrassMaster hybrid grass |
| Scoreboard | Tecnovision |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 1925 |
| Opened | 19 September 1926 |
| Renovated | 1935, 1955, 1987–1990, 2015–2016 |
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| Tenants | |
| AC Milan (1926–1941, 1945–present) Inter Milan (1947–present) Italy national football team (selected matches) |
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San Siro is a famous football stadium in the San Siro district of Milan, Italy. With room for 75,817 fans, it is the largest stadium in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe. It is the home field for Milan's two major football clubs, AC Milan and Inter Milan. When these two teams play against each other, it's called the Derby della Madonnina.
In 1980, the stadium was officially named Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. This was to honor Giuseppe Meazza, a legendary football player who won two FIFA World Cups with Italy. He played for Inter Milan for many years and also played for AC Milan for a short time.
The San Siro is a top-rated stadium, holding a category four rating from UEFA. It has hosted many important events, including games for the 1934 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. It has also been the site for four European Cup finals. The stadium will also host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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History of the Stadium
The stadium's construction began in 1925. The president of AC Milan at the time, Piero Pirelli, wanted a stadium just for football. Unlike other Italian stadiums, it was built without an athletics track around the field. The first match was on 19 September 1926, where Inter Milan beat AC Milan 6–3 in front of 35,000 people.
At first, the stadium belonged only to AC Milan. In 1947, Inter Milan, which had been playing at another stadium, moved in. Since then, the two rival clubs have shared the San Siro as their home ground.
Major Upgrades and Changes
The stadium has been expanded and renovated several times. Between 1948 and 1955, a second level was added to hold more fans. The biggest renovation happened for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. To prepare for the tournament, a third ring was added, along with a roof.
The new design included eleven large concrete towers to support the third ring and the roof. Four of these towers stand at the corners and hold up the roof's large red beams, giving the stadium its unique look.
Inside the stadium, a museum opened in 1996. It tells the history of both AC Milan and Inter Milan. Visitors can see old jerseys, trophies, and other special items from both clubs.
Famous Matches and Events
The San Siro has hosted many unforgettable matches. Three times, the Milan clubs have faced each other in the UEFA Champions League. In 2005, a match between them was stopped after Inter's fans behaved poorly. This led to a penalty for the club.
The stadium has also been the location for four UEFA Champions League finals, in 1965, 1970, 2001, and 2016. It has also hosted finals for the UEFA Cup (now called the Europa League).
In February 2020, a Champions League match at San Siro between Atalanta and Valencia drew a large crowd. This event happened just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to spread rapidly in the nearby region of Bergamo.
What's Next for San Siro?
In 2019, both AC Milan and Inter Milan announced plans to build a new stadium next to the San Siro. However, the mayor of Milan stated that the San Siro would remain in use at least until the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In 2021, a design by the company Populous was chosen for the new stadium. But in 2023, AC Milan announced it was exploring a plan to build its own new stadium in a different part of Milan. The future of the historic San Siro is still being discussed.
International Football at San Siro
The San Siro has been a major venue for international football for almost a century. It has hosted the Italian national team many times and has been a key location for major tournaments.
1934 FIFA World Cup
The stadium hosted three important matches during the 1934 World Cup.
| Date | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round |
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| 27 May 1934 |  Switzerland |
3–2 |  Netherlands |
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| 31 May 1934 |  Germany |
2–1 |  Sweden |
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| 3 June 1934 |  Italy |
1–0 |  Austria |
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1990 FIFA World Cup
For the 1990 World Cup, the San Siro was one of the main stadiums and hosted six matches, including the opening game.
| Date | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round |
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| 8 June 1990 |  Argentina |
0–1 |  Cameroon |
Group B (opening match) |
| 10 June 1990 |  West Germany |
4–1 |  Yugoslavia |
Group D |
| 15 June 1990 | 5–1 |  United Arab Emirates |
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| 19 June 1990 | 1–1 |  Colombia |
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| 24 June 1990 | 2–1 | Netherlands |
Round of 16 | |
| 1 July 1990 |  Czechoslovakia |
0–1 | West Germany |
Quarter-finals |
Other Sports and Events
Besides football, the San Siro has hosted other major sporting events and concerts.
2026 Winter Olympics
San Siro is scheduled to host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be co-hosted by Milan.
Boxing and Rugby
In 1960, a world title boxing match was held at the stadium. It has also hosted rugby union matches. In 2009, a match between Italy and the famous New Zealand All Blacks drew over 80,000 fans, a record for a rugby game in Italy.
Concerts at San Siro
Many of the world's biggest music stars have performed at the San Siro. The first was Bob Marley in 1980. Since then, artists like Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Beyoncé, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift have all held massive concerts here.
Italian artists have also had huge success at the stadium. Vasco Rossi holds the record for the most performances, with 29 concerts. In 2007, Laura Pausini became the first female artist to perform at San Siro.
How to Get to the Stadium
The stadium is easy to reach using Milan's public transport.
- Metro: The M5 (purple line) has a dedicated stop called San Siro Stadio right in front of the stadium.
- Tram: Line 16 stops directly in front of the stadium.
- Walking: The Lotto station (on the M1 and M5 lines) is about a 15-minute walk away.
Images for kids
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Italy national football team matches.png
A list of matches played by the Italy national team at San Siro.
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Giuseppe Meazza para niños
