Stadion Wankdorf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Stadion Wankdorf

UEFA Category 4 Stadium
Former names	Stade de Suisse (2005–2020) Wankdorfstadion (2020–present)
Location	Papiermühlestrasse 71 CH-3022 Bern, Switzerland
Coordinates	46°57′47″N 7°27′53″E / 46.96306°N 7.46472°E / 46.96306; 7.46472
Owner	Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Nationalstadion AG
Operator	Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Nationalstadion AG
Capacity	32,000 (football) 45,000 (concerts)
Surface	Artificial grass (Polytan LigaTurf RS Pro CoolPlus)
Construction
Broke ground	2003
Opened	30 July 2005
Construction cost	CHF 350 million (2005)
Architect	Marazzi Generalunternehmung AG
Tenants
BSC Young Boys (2005–present) Switzerland national football team

The Wankdorf Stadium (also known as Stadion Wankdorf in German) is a cool football stadium in Bern, Switzerland. It's the second-largest football stadium in Switzerland with seats for everyone. This stadium is the home field for the BSC Young Boys football team. It has also hosted big events like UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

A Look Back: The Stadium's Story

An aerial view of the stadium in 2011.

The Wankdorf Stadium you see today was built on a very special spot. An older stadium, also called Wankdorf Stadium, used to stand here. That old stadium was famous for hosting the 1954 FIFA World Cup final. That match is still remembered as "The Miracle of Bern"! The old stadium was taken down in 2001 to make way for the new one.

The new stadium opened its doors on July 30, 2005. It can hold 32,000 fans, and every single person gets a seat. A cool fact about the stadium is that its roof has solar panels. These panels create a lot of electricity, about 1,200,000 kWh each year!

The very first football game in the new stadium happened on July 16, 2005. The Young Boys played against Olympique de Marseille. Even though Young Boys lost 2-3, it was a great test for the new stadium.

What's in a Name?

When the stadium first opened in 2005, it was called "Stade de Suisse." But in June 2020, the name changed back to "Stadion Wankdorf." This change was made to honor the history of the original stadium and its roots.

The Playing Field

The Wankdorf Stadium is known for its artificial grass pitch. This type of field is often used because it's easier to maintain. However, for really big football tournaments, like the UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Women's Euro 2025, real natural grass was laid down.

The Wankdorf Stadium before a Champions League Play Off Match in 2019.

The Wankdorf Stadium before a Champions League Match (2021).

Music and Shows

Besides football, the Wankdorf Stadium is a popular place for concerts. Many famous music artists have performed here for thousands of fans.

Some of the big names who have played at the stadium include:

• Bruce Springsteen
• AC/DC
• P!nk
• Muse
• Bon Jovi
• Depeche Mode
• One Direction
• Celine Dion
• Rammstein
• Elton John
• Imagine Dragons
• The Rolling Stones
• Justin Bieber
• Foo Fighters

The Special Red Seat

The Wankdorf Stadium has a unique feature called "The Hot Seat." While most seats are black and yellow, there's one special red seat. This was the very first seat installed in the stadium on January 20, 2005. A former Young Boys player and manager, Walter Eich, had the honor of revealing it. You can't buy a ticket for this seat. Instead, a famous person, often someone connected to the Young Boys team, sits there for every game.

Ice Hockey Fun

An ice hockey game being played at the Wankdorf Stadium.

The Wankdorf Stadium has also hosted a huge ice hockey game! Because it has an artificial turf field, it was perfect for setting up an outdoor ice rink. On January 14, 2007, a massive local rivalry game took place. The teams SC Bern and SC Langnau played, and an amazing 30,076 fans filled the stadium. All the tickets for this exciting event sold out in just 53 hours!

Big Football Matches

The stadium has been a stage for many important international football games.

UEFA Euro 2008 Matches

The Wankdorf Stadium was one of the places where games were played during the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. The Netherlands played all three of their group stage matches here.

Date	Time (CEST)	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round	Spectators
9 June 2008	20:45	Netherlands	3–0	Italy	Group C	30,777
13 June 2008			4–1	France
17 June 2008			2–0	Romania

International Football Games

Many national teams have played friendly matches and World Cup qualifiers at the Wankdorf Stadium.

Date		Result		Competition
8 October 2005	Switzerland	1–1	France	2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification
12 November 2005		2–0	Turkey
29 February 2012		1–3	Argentina	Friendly
30 May 2012	Spain	4–1	South Korea
15 August 2012	England	2–1	Italy
12 October 2012	Switzerland	1–1	Norway	2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification
6 September 2013		4–4	Iceland
15 October 2013		1–0	Slovenia

UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Matches

The stadium was also a venue for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, hosting several exciting matches.

Date	Time (CEST)	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round	Spectators
3 July 2025	21:00	Spain	5–0	Portugal	Group B	29,520
6 July 2025	21:00	Switzerland	2–0	Iceland	Group A	29,658
11 July 2025	21:00	Italy	1–3	Spain	Group B	29,644
18 July 2025	21:00	Spain	2–0	Switzerland	Quarter-finals	29,734

See also

In Spanish: Stadion Wankdorf para niños

• List of football stadiums in Switzerland