#16 Pancho Arena, Hungary
The Pancho Arena is an architectural marvel as much as it is a football stadium and is home to Puskás Academy FC, a team which plays in Hungary’s top-flight.
Named after the Hungarian legend of the game Ferenc Puskás (whose nickname was Pancho), the stadium was completed in 2014 and is located in Felcsút, Hungary. It’s official seating capacity is around 3,500.
The curved wooden interiors combine with the splendid lighting to provide a treat to the eyes, especially in the evenings. Designed by the inimitable Imre Makovecz, the Pancho Arena is the first major football stadium to be constructed in Hungary since the Albert Stadion was built in 1974.
#15 Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar
One of the most scenic football pitches, the Victoria Stadium is located in Gibraltar and has a capacity of 2000. All of Gibraltar’s football clubs and the national team use the football stadium as their ‘home’ turf.
Mostly used for football, the stadium has also hosted cricket matches and is the regular venue for the country’s annual music festival. The open stadium, surrounded by peaks, plains and covered by a blue sky canopy, has been in use since 1926.
However, in 2013, Gibraltar was admitted as a full member of the UEFA and therefore, an upgrade of football facilities had been sought. It led to the potential construction of a new venue – known as the Europa Point Stadium – which is eventually set to replace the iconic and naturally beautiful Victoria football stadium as the national team’s home ground.
#14 Eco-Estádio Janguito Malucelli, Brazil (Eco-Stadium)
The Estádio Janguito Malucelli football stadium is layered in different shades of green all across the pitch, stands and surroundings. One of the most eco-friendly football venues in the world, the stadium is surrounded by thick, tall trees covered in the darkest of greens.
While the grassy pitch is the usual lush shade, recycled wooden seats (also covered in grass) have been planted onto the sides of the cliff which serve as stands and provide a clear view of the game.
Built in 2007 and serving as home to the J. Malucelli Futebol club, the stadium has the capacity to hold a crowd of about 6000. Players’ dugouts are built from bamboo and solar panels are used to electrify the stadium.
#13 Cocodrilos Sports Park, Venezuela
The Cocodrilos sports park is a multi-utility sports venue but is most commonly used as a football stadium. It was completed in 2005 and can house 3500 fans during a match.
The Caracas Fútbol Club are the tenants of this football stadium and use it as their part-time home venue. The stadium is both unique and strange in terms of location – it is naturally fenced as it is surrounded mostly by mountains / cliffs but a part of it opens onto the busy freeway.
