No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaConstruction of Costa Rica's National Stadium

Construction of Costa Rica’s National Stadium

The National Stadium (Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica), which is located in La Sabana Metropolitan Park, marked Costa Rica’s largest construction project in its history when it opened in 2011.

Following an inaugural ceremony held on March 26 of that year, the stadium has been home to the Costa Rican national soccer team and has hosted hundreds of events since.

The Chinese government financed the stadium’s $100 million price tag as a gift to the country. To commemorate the grand opening, the Costa Rica men’s national team played against their Chinese counterparts as one of the main inaugural events, which resulted in a 2-2 tie.

The 35,000-seat stadium replaced its predecessor of the same name and location, which was built in 1924 and had a seating capacity of 24,000. It was demolished in 2008 to make room for the new venue.

Aerial look over La Sabana, San José
Photo via Luis Palma /
Fotografias antiguas de Costa Rica

The stadium’s most notable matches include the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where the opening game, the third-place match and the final match were held. The senior men’s national team has also played several World Cup qualifiers and a 2019 Gold Cup match there.

Concerts at the stadium have featured headliners such as Shakira, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Roger Waters.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Wildlife Crisis: “Esto No Es Pura Vida” Fights Electrocution Threat

Costa Rica’s forests, coasts, and mountains shelter an astonishing array of wildlife, from howler monkeys to sloths and scarlet macaws. This biodiversity, which accounts...

Salvadoran Lawyer Arrested Amid Crackdown on Bukele Critics

Salvadoran constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya, a staunch critic of President Nayib Bukele, was arrested Saturday on charges of money laundering, according to the Attorney...

Environment Day 2025: Progress, Challenges, and What Comes Next

June 5th is International Environment Day, established by the United Nations in 1972 to call attention to issues involving the environment. The idea promised...

Costa Rica Fights Drug Trafficking as Transit Hub Despite Resource Strains

Costa Rica remains a key route for drugs heading to North America, despite efforts to crack down on trafficking. The U.S. Department of State’s...

Costa Rica Co-Host UNOC3 for Fossil Fuel Ban and Ocean Protection

Costa Rica is taking center stage at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13, co-hosting alongside...

US Soldiers Join Panama for Canal Defense Exercises

US soldiers arrived in Panama yesterday to conduct military exercises focused on protecting the Panama Canal, a key global trade route. The US Embassy...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica