Estadio Centenario

The stadium in 1930, when it was inaugurated for the first World Cup

The construction of the Centenario is one of the most important stages in the development of sports in South America and international football. It was built especially for the 1930 FIFA World Cup, by immigrant workers in a record time of nine months. Its name originates from the 100-year-celebration of the ratification of the first Constitution of Uruguay.

Initially, all World Cup matches were to be played in the Centenario. However, heavy rains in Montevideo delayed construction of the stadium, so that several matches had to be played in the Pocitos Stadium of C.A. Peñarol, and the Parque Central of Club Nacional de Football. It was inaugurated on July 18, 1930, with a match between Uruguay and Peru; the Celeste won 1–0 with a goal by Hector "Manco" Castro.[7]

The final match of the inaugural World Cup matched Uruguay and Argentina, with Uruguay winning 4–2.[8] Since then, the Centenario has been the scene of Copa América (1942, 1956, 1967, 1995), three South American Youth Championships (1979, 2003, 2015), a South American Under-17 Football Championship (1999) and 1980 Mundialito.

In 2021, the Centenario was selected as host of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana finals. The stadium was renovated to prepare for those matches. The total cost of the works was $6 million and included the renovation of the grandstands, bathrooms, VIP boxes, and press boxes, along with a new illumination system and new pitch.[9][10]

Aside from the Uruguay national team, any football club can rent the stadium for its home matches.[6] Peñarol has done that often,[11] and Nacional rents it for some international matches.[12] Peñarol played all of its home matches at the stadium from 1933 until it moved to Estadio Campeón del Siglo in 2016.

In the case of other Uruguayan teams, they often decide to play there against both Peñarol and Nacional.[11][12]

The stadium has four grandstands separated by four lanes. The main one is the Olympic Tribune (and lower Platea known as Olympic), which is named so because the team had won two Olympic championships in a row (1924 and 1928). This has a maximum capacity of 21,648 spectators located in the three rings and the audience.[1] Then there are the "popular", so called because they are sold cheaper, these are: the Colombes, in honor of the Colombes, France in which the national team became Olympic champions 1924 and Amsterdam, because it was where the Celeste were crowned Olympic champions for the second time in 1928. The Grandstand Colombes accommodates 13,914 spectators while the Amsterdam accommodates 13,923.[1] The America Tribune is parallel to the Olympic one. There are also "VIP" boxes and press boxes with room for 1,882 spectators, as well as the platform has room for 2,911 spectators, and additionally the grandstand has room for 5,957 people.[1]

Under the Olympic Grandstand are located primary school "Nº 100 Héctor Fígoli"; and the Museum of Uruguayan Football. Under the Colombes Grandstand is located Police Station Nº9.

Estadio Centenario, panorama from the Olympic grandstand

Other facilities

Trophies and memorabilia exhibited at the Museum

Inside the Centenario stadium, there are other facilities such as the "Uruguayan Football Museum" which highlights the sporting achievements of the Uruguayan national team. It is located under the Olympic grandstand of the Centenario stadium and was inaugurated on December 15, 1975. In 2004, it underwent a remodeling, in which a panoramic elevator was added to the Torre de los Homenajes.

The Museum has a large collection of objects that are reminders of the most outstanding moments of Uruguayan and world football. This is administered by the Official Field Administrative Commission (CAFO), which is made up of representatives of the AUF and the Montevideo Municipal Government.[13] On July 21, 1929, the founding stone of the Stadium was laid, which is located under the tower and can also be visited.

There is also a school running under the Olympic grandstand.

The stadium has held numerous concerts by both national and international artists such as:[15]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Estadio Centenario.

• Estadio Centenario in Gigapan
• Official website (archived)