Wembley Stadium

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Lore & Background

Designed by Populous and Foster and Partners, the stadium is crowned by the Wembley Arch which supports over 75% of the entire roof load. The stadium was built by Australian firm Multiplex at a cost of £798 million. Two partially retractable roof structures over the east and west ends can be opened to allow sunlight and aid pitch growth. The stadium hosted the gold-medal matches at the 2012 Olympic Games football tournament. It also hosted the 2011, 2013 and 2024 Champions League Finals, eight games at UEFA Euro 2020 (including the final and both semi-finals), and the final of the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell soft on the grey London afternoon, 29 July 1948. Inside the Empire Stadium, the crowd hushed as the Olympic flame entered. A young runner, John Mark, climbed the steps to the cauldron, his breath visible in the chill. The flame roared to life, and the stadium erupted—a sound of hope after the silence of war. On the track, Fanny Blankers-Koen, her dark hair pinned, crouched for the 100 metres. She knew the world doubted a mother could sprint. The gun fired, and she flew, her spikes tearing the cinder track. Forty thousand voices rose as one, a wave of belief that carried her to gold. For a moment, the old stadium was not just concrete and steel—it was a promise of peace, written in sweat and speed. Sixty-four years later, on a balmy August evening in 2012, the rebuilt Wembley roared again as Alex Morgan headed the USA to women's football gold, the arch blazing with Union Jack lights—a different peace, but the same roar.

Reader's Guide

The stadium hosts England home games, the FA Cup final, the FA Community Shield, finals of the FA Trophy, FA Vase, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy, FA Cup semi-finals, promotion play-off finals of tiers two through five of the English football league system, Women's FA Cup finals, and home games of the England women's national football team. It also hosts the Rugby Football League's Challenge Cup, Women's Challenge Cup, and 1895 Cup finals, NFL London Games, and music concerts. It was the temporary home of Tottenham Hotspur between August 2017 and March 2019. Wembley has been chosen as a host stadium for UEFA Euro 2028.

Did You Know?

• The Wembley Arch is the world's longest unsupported roof structure.
• The stadium has the largest roof-covered seating capacity in the world.
• No athletics events (track and field) have taken place at the stadium.
• The stadium's construction cost £798 million in 2007.