San Siro

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Construction of the stadium commenced in 1925 in the San Siro district of Milan, originally named Nuovo Stadio Calcistico San Siro. The idea belonged to AC Milan president Piero Pirelli. The architects designed a private stadium only for football, without athletics tracks. Inaugurated on 19 September 1926, 35,000 spectators saw Inter defeat Milan 6–3. Originally the home of Milan, it was acquired by the City Council in the 1930s. In 1947, Inter became tenants, and the two teams have shared the ground ever since. On 2 March 1980, the stadium was named for Giuseppe Meazza, the two-time World Cup winner who played for Inter and Milan. For a time, Inter fans called it Stadio Meazza, but in recent years both sets of fans have called it simply San Siro.

In Their Own Story

The Italy national team occasionally plays matches at the San Siro. The stadium has hosted major international tournaments: three games at the 1934 FIFA World Cup, the opening ceremony and six games at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and three games at UEFA Euro 1980. It has also been the venue for four European Cup finals: 1965 (won by Inter), 1970 (won by Feyenoord), 2001 (won by Bayern Munich), and 2016 (won by Real Madrid). The stadium was also used for the home leg of three UEFA Cup finals involving Inter (1991, 1994, 1997) and by Juventus for their 'home' leg in 1995. In March 2020, a Champions League match between Atalanta and Valencia at the San Siro was dubbed "Game Zero" by the Associated Press, marking the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

Reader's Guide

When the Italy national team plays at San Siro, the stadium unites fans from both Milan clubs under the Azzurri flag. The stadium's nickname, "La Scala del calcio," reflects its status as a theatre of football. The venue is a UEFA category four stadium. Its last major renovation, costing $60 million, took place between 1987 and 1990 for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, adding a third tier on three sides supported by eleven concrete towers with a new roof featuring protruding red girders. In 1996, a museum opened inside the stadium charting the history of AC Milan and Internazionale. The stadium has a seating capacity of 75,817.

Did You Know?

• The stadium was originally named Nuovo Stadio Calcistico San Siro when construction began in 1925.
• The idea to build the stadium belonged to AC Milan president Piero Pirelli.
• The stadium was named after Giuseppe Meazza on 2 March 1980, who won the World Cup twice (1934, 1938).
• The last major renovation cost $60 million and took place between 1987 and 1990 for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
• A Champions League match at the San Siro on 19 February 2020 was dubbed 'Game Zero' of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy by the Associated Press.

A Shared Home for Rivals

The San Siro has been the shared home of AC Milan and Inter Milan since 1947, when Inter moved from the Arena Civica. Originally built for AC Milan under president Piero Pirelli and inaugurated in 1926, the stadium was acquired by the City Council in the 1930s. The two clubs contest the Derby della Madonnina here. In March 1980, the stadium was named after Giuseppe Meazza, who played for Inter (and briefly for Milan) and served as Inter's manager. Inter fans historically preferred the name Stadio Meazza due to Meazza's stronger connections with Inter, but in recent years both sets of fans have called it simply San Siro. Three Milan derby Champions League knockout ties have taken place here: in 2003, 2005, and 2023. The 2005 second leg was abandoned after Inter fans threw flares at Milan players, earning a fine and a four-game spectator ban for European fixtures.

Architectural Evolution and Expansion

Construction began in 1925, with the design inspired by English football stadiums featuring four separated stands and no athletics tracks. The stadium was inaugurated on 19 September 1926 with a capacity of 35,000. After the City Council acquired it in the 1930s, a capacity expansion connected the four stands in the corners, creating what was called the first tier. From 1948 to 1955, engineers Armando Ronca and Ferruccio Calzolari proposed three additional vertically arranged rings to increase capacity to 150,000, with nineteen spiralling ramps for access. The highest tier was abandoned during construction, and capacity was limited to 100,000, then reduced to 60,000 seats and 25,000 standing for security reasons. The last major renovation, between 1987 and 1990 for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, cost $60 million. Architects Giancarlo Ragazzi and Enrico Hoffer, and engineer Leo Finzi, added a third tier on three sides, supported by eleven concrete towers with helical ramps. Four corner towers support a new roof with distinctive protruding red girders. The capacity was increased to 85,000, though current seating capacity is 75,817.

A Stage for Global Football History

The San Siro has hosted major international events: three games at the 1934 FIFA World Cup, the opening ceremony and six games at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and three games at UEFA Euro 1980. It has hosted four European Cup finals: 1965 (Inter won), 1970 (Feyenoord won), 2001 (Bayern Munich won), and 2016 (Real Madrid won). It was the home leg for three UEFA Cup finals involving Inter (1991, 1994, 1997) and for Juventus in 1995. The stadium hosted the 1951 Latin Cup, won by Milan. It is scheduled to host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The Italy national team occasionally plays matches there.

Moments of Tragedy and Triumph

In March 2020, the Associated Press dubbed the Champions League match between Atalanta and Valencia at the San Siro on 19 February as "Game Zero" of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Over 40,000 people attended—about one third of Bergamo's population. By 24 March, almost 7,000 people in the province of Bergamo had tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 1,000 had died, making Bergamo the hardest-hit province in Italy. Three Milan derby Champions League knockout ties have taken place at the San Siro: in 2003 and 2005 (Milan won), and 2023 (Inter won). The 2005 second leg was abandoned when Inter fans threw flares and other objects at Milan players, forcing the match to be abandoned; this earned Inter a large fine and a four-game ban on spectators attending European fixtures there the following season.