Uruguay dekko of revamped Estadio Centenario

Article posted by Coliseum, August 25^th, 2023

Image: auf.org.uy, saceem and GomezPlatero

One hundred years (100) years after hosting the inaugural World Cup final in 1930, Uruguay recently provided a glimpse of what its national stadium, the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo could look like if the country hosts the 2030 World Cup. Uruguay won the first World Cup, which is the only time the South American nation hosted the tournament.

The first renderings has been presented of how a redeveloped Estadio Centenario could look for a 2030 FIFA World Cup™ final held under the four-nation South American bid proposal (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay).

‘WORLD SOCCER TALK’ stated that the Estadio Centenario hosted 10 of the 18 games during the first World Cup in 1930. That included each of Uruguay’s four games. However, a stadium that old is not in prime condition. It is the primary home of the Uruguay national team, but no club plays in it each matchday. Then, with a capacity of just over 60,000, it is considerably smaller than the other venues to host the World Cup Final. The stadiums for the World Cup final regularly hold more than 80,000 in capacity.

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The 1930 FIFA World Cup™ was the inaugural FIFA World Cup™, the world championship for the men’s national football teams. It took place in Uruguay from July 13^th-30^th, 1930.

The 60,235-capacity Estadio Centenario is a stadium in the Parque Batlle of Montevideo, Uruguay, used primarily for football, and owned by the Montevideo Department. The stadium was built between 1929 and 1930 to host the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup™, as well as to commemorate the centenary of Uruguay’s first Constitution.

The 2030 FIFA World Cup™ will be the 24^th FIFA World Cup™, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of the member-associations of FIFA. The 2030 World Cup will mark the centennial World Cup competition.

In February this year, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay officially submitted a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, calling for the tournament to return “where football was born” 100 years after the first World Cup was held in Montevideo, Uruguay.

‘WORLD SOCCER TALK’ further stated that the Uruguayan Government released new renderings of what the stadium could look like in 2030. Should Uruguay win the 2030 World Cup bid alongside Argentina, Chile and Paraguay, the Estadio Centenario would be a major candidate to host the final.

The key part of the renderings is the inclusion of a roof. During July in Uruguay, temperatures do get quite cool. Highs are around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. However, shade is always welcome, and it is a common trend among the new stadium designs. For example, the LaLiga club FC Barcelona and Real Madrid added roofs to their stadiums as part of recent renovations.

Fierce Competition

The combined bid between Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay is one of two active and confirmed bids. The other is also between four countries. Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Ukraine are battling the South American countries to host the 2030 World Cup.

The South American countries proposed 18 stadiums across 13 Cities. The Estadio Centenario is one of the three to have hosted a World Cup final. The 48,665-capacity Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile hosted the 1962 World Cup Final. In the 1978 World Cup, the 84,567-capacity Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted the final. However, Uruguay’s Estadio Centenario is one of the leading venues for the bid. It is likely that Uruguay’s national stadium will host the final if the South American bid wins.

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