Estadio Ciudad de La Plata

Lore & Background

The idea for the project began in 1947 when Governor Domingo Mercante expropriated property at the junction of Roads 32 and 25. In 1972, La Plata was a candidate to host 1978 FIFA World Cup matches, but the chosen project was never carried out. In 1989, a committee was created to build a complex for football and other sports. Construction began in 1997, and the stadium opened on June 7, 2003. It was temporarily closed to become an all-seater stadium and install a new roof, reopening on February 17, 2011. After Diego Maradona's death in November 2020, the stadium was renamed in his honor. In December 2024, an agreement was signed for AFA to take control, which occurred in December 2025. As of April 2026, the stadium was under renovation.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights ignited, cutting through the humid La Plata night to bathe the pristine turf in stark white light. This wasn't the crumbling concrete of the past, but a gleaming modern coliseum where the air smelled of cut grass and anticipation rather than old dust. As the Argentina captain stepped onto the pitch for warm-ups, the stadium's iconic curved roof arched overhead like a protective hand, framing the players against the starry sky. Here, history wasn't just recalled; it was being forged in real-time.

Reader's Guide

The stadium is located between 32nd and 526th avenues, 25 Street and 21 in La Plata. It has hosted Argentina national team friendly matches, the 2011 Copa América (including the opening game), the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup (including the final), and rugby matches as part of The Rugby Championship. It also hosts concerts.

Did You Know?

• The stadium was originally named Estadio Ciudad de La Plata and was renamed Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona after Maradona's death in 2020.
• One of its grandstands is named 'Alejandro Sabella' to honor a notable player from the city.
• The stadium's surface was replaced in 2018 with PlayMaster hybrid grass, following European venues like the Johan Cruyff Arena and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
• Over 300,000 tickets to concerts at the stadium were sold in 2011, ranking it fifth worldwide in performing events tickets sold.