Estadio Centenario is a football stadium located in Montevideo, Uruguay. The stadium opened in 1930 and currently features a capacity of 60,235. The stadium is best known as having been the main venue for the first World Cup held in 1930. The stadium is also due to the host the opening match of the 2030 World Cup, the centenary edition of the tournament.

The stadium was built specifically to host the 1930 FIFA World Cup as well as commemorating the centenary of Uruguay’s first constitution, which is what the stadium is named after. The stadium hosted ten matches at the tournament including both semi finals and the final between Uruguay and Argentina with the host team winning 4-2 becoming the first World Cup champions.

The stadium features four separate stands: Olympica, Colombes, Amsterdam and America. The Colombes and Amsterdam stand are located behind each goal and are named after the host city in which Uruguay became Olympic champions in 1924 and 1928 respectively. The America stand is the smallest of the four stands and features the stadium’s VIP section and press area. Opposite the America stand is the Olympica stand, the largest of the four stands, named after Uruguay’s consecutive Olympic gold medal wins that preceded the 1930 tournament.

Towering over, and part of, the Olympica stand is the 100-metre-tall Torre de los Homenajes, the stadium’s most recognisable feature. The nine levels of the tower represent the nine stripes of the Uruguayan flag with base intending to represent the wings of a plane and the prow of a ship, modes of transport used by immigrants to arrive in the country. The top of the tower features an observation deck, whilst at the base, located within the Olympica stand, is the Museo de Futbol, a museum dedicated to the history of football in Uruguay.

The stadium’s current design has remained virtually unchanged almost 100 years after its construction. Its long history, unique design and the critical part it played in the history of the world’s most famous and popular sport’s tournament’s make the Centenario one of the world’s great stadium’s. In 1983 it was recognised as a Historical Monument of World Football by FIFA. 

The stadium is located within the Parque Battle, public park/area of Montevideo.