Top 8 Soccer Stadiums in Colombia Sports Lovers Should Visit

Updated: July 2026 · by Frank Spitzer

Top 8 Soccer Stadiums in Colombia Sports Lovers Should Visit

Football (soccer) is Colombia’s national sport, with 8 major professional stadiums hosting Liga BetPlay matches and Colombian national team games. From El Campín in Bogotá (capacity 36,000) to the Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla (capacity 46,000), this guide covers Colombia’s top football venues.

I am Frank Spitzer, founder of Pelecanus Travel (RNT 51402, IAGTO member, Bogotá-based since 2017). We arrange football match attendance tours with safe seating in major stadiums. Send me a message to start planning.

Football matches in Colombia are family events — even at major derby games the atmosphere is celebratory rather than aggressive. This Bogotá overview gives you the cultural context.

Estadio Metropolitano Meléndez – Barranquilla, Atlántico

• Location: Calle 46 1 S-45 Av. Circunvalar, Barranquilla, Atlántico.
• Inauguration: 1986
• Capacity: 47,000 spectators.

The Estadio Metropolitano Meléndez, inaugurated in 1986, has a history deeply intertwined with Colombian football passion. It officially serves as the home for the Colombian national football team and Atlético Junior, a prominent team in the Colombian league.

This stadium has witnessed crucial matches for the national team and celebrated significant goals and victories. One memorable moment was when the renowned player Falcao García scored the penalty goal against Chile, securing Colombia’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup—an unforgettable moment etched in the stadium’s history.

Beyond football, the stadium has hosted various events, including music concerts and athletics races.

Museum at the Metropolitano

Currently, the municipality is constructing a museum dedicated to the Colombian national team, showcasing trophies, medals, and items dedicated to players who have represented the team since 1964 until today.

Features

• Dimensions: 105 x 70 meters.
• 8 bathrooms.
• 27 radio booths.
• Press room.
• Lighting tower system.
• Medical service rooms.

Entry

Entrance requires a fee. Stay updated through the official website for event schedules.

You can only enter Estadio Metropolitano during events or matches, as personalized tours are not available. Nevertheless, the football experience in this venue is undoubtedly worthwhile.

Estadio Atanasio Girardot – Medellín, Antioquia.

• Location: Calle 48 #73-10, Medellín, Antioquia.
• Inauguration: 1953
• Capacity: 46,000 spectators.

Estadio Atanasio Girardot is situated in the heart of Medellín and is home to two of the country’s most popular football teams: Deportivo Independiente Medellín and Atlético Nacional.

In 1989, Atlético Nacional made history by winning the Copa Libertadores, the most prestigious club tournament in South America, in a match still proudly remembered nationwide.

Apart from football matches, Estadio Atanasio Girardot has hosted other renowned sporting events. In 2010, it hosted the IX South American Games, featuring athletes from across South America.

The stadium has also witnessed exciting rugby matches, showcasing the growth of the sport in Colombia.

Museum at the Atanasio Girardot

Estadio Atanasio Girardot has a football museum on the second floor, displaying items used by Colombian athletes who have excelled in sports.

For example, there are jerseys of the famous goalkeeper of the Colombian national team René Higuita, known worldwide for his famous scorpion, or the bicycle racer Mariana Pajón, the athlete Catherine Ibarguen, among others.

Features

• Dimensions: 110 x 73 meters.
• Exclusive boxes.
• Luxurious dressing rooms.
• Press booths.
• Areas with restaurants and cafeterias.
• National sports museum.

Entry

While entrance to sporting events has a cost, you can access the museum for free once inside the stadium.

Check the X profile of Estadio Atanasio Girardot for more information.

The stadium also offers free guided tours; however, it is recommended to attend local matches or events for a better experience.

Estadio Nemesio Camacho “El Campín” – Bogotá D.C

• Location: Carrera 30 – Calle 53, Bogotá D.C
• Inauguration: 1938
• Capacity: 40,000 spectators

Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín is one of the largest stadiums in the country and is currently home to two significant teams: Independiente Santa Fe and Millonarios FC.

In 2015, the English magazine For Four two ranked this stadium among the top 100 football stadiums in the world.

Here, you experience one of the most passionate football rivalries in the capital, the “Clásico bogotano,” between Santa Fe and Millonarios. This match is one of the best and most thrilling in the Colombian football league, providing an adrenaline-pumping experience.

The stadium has also hosted major events such as rock concerts featuring international artists like Coldplay and Guns n’ Roses.

Museum at the Nemesio Camacho El Campín

Here, you can explore the museum dedicated to Millonarios FC, the local team, the most decorated team in Colombia (16 national titles).

Highlights:

• A giant mural with the legend “La historia Embajadora” and a wall with historical photos spanning the 68 years of Millonarios F.C.’s history.
• Trophies from the sixteen League titles, the Copa Merconorte, the Copa Postobón, and other awards.
• Uniforms used by Millonarios FC from 1977 to the present.

Features

• Dimensions: 105 x 68 meters.
• Earthquake-resistant structure.
• 42 entrances and 48 exits.
• Free wireless internet service.
• Dressing rooms for players and one for referees.
• Press booths.

Entry

Entrance to sporting events requires payment.

However, the stadium offers free guided tours, including:

• Dressing rooms.
• Boxes.
• Press booths.
• Museum.
• Bleachers.
• Mural of the Colombian national team, among others.

First, send an email to estadioelcampin@idrd.gov.co to reserve a tour, specifying the number of attendees (minimum 10, maximum 30).

We recommend exploring more of what Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín has to offer.

Estadio Pascual Guerrero – Cali, Valle del Cauca

• Location: Carrera 36 5B-32, Cali, Valle del Cauca
• Inauguration: 1937
• Capacity: 38,000 people

The Estadio Pascual Guerrero is another of the largest stadiums, built thanks to a donation from the poet Pascual Guerrero, honored with its name. It is the stadium of the football team América de Cali.

It is one of the most attractive stadiums in the country due to its typical European Olympic-style architecture.

At the Pascual Guerrero, América de Cali played its first final of the Copa Libertadores in 1978, a historic event still remembered with pride by its fans.

It has also hosted major events such as the 2013 World Games, the 2001 Copa America, or the 2011 U-20 World Cup with 24 participating teams.

Does Estadio Pascual Guerrero have a museum?

At the moment, the stadium does not have a museum, but the municipality plans to open an establishment dedicated to the former Colombian national team player, Freddy Rincón, an important figure in the history of Colombian football who passed away in a traffic accident in 2022.

Features

• Dimensions: 105 x 68 meters
• Visitor locker room spaces
• Radio booths

Entry

Entrance to sporting events has a cost.

Guided tours are not currently conducted. Still, we recommend attending one of the classic matches between América de Cali and Deportivo Cali. I recommend buying a ticket for the upper east stand as you will get a preferential view of the entire stadium.

Estadio Palogrande – Manizales, Caldas

• Location: Carrera 25 No. 64-00, Manizales, Caldas
• Inauguration: 1961
• Capacity: 38,000 people

The Estadio Palogrande in Manizales was founded in 1961, although it was demolished due to its deteriorating condition, not entirely, but it was rebuilt until 1994 when it was reopened.

This stadium is the home of one of the most popular teams in Colombia, Once Caldas, as well as the place where they won their first Copa América against Boca Juniors of Argentina in 2004.

Its design stands out for being one of the most modern and functional, adapted to multiple functions, such as sports events like intercollegiate athletics and cultural events like the super concert, held every year at the Manizales Fair.

Features

• Dimensions: 110 x 70 meters
• Covered, with an oval shape
• Four stands where you will find VIP rooms
• Press room
• Dressing rooms
• Restaurant areas

Entry

Entrance has a cost. Currently, guided tours are not available.

Estadio Hernán Villegas Ramírez – Pereira, Risaralda

• Location: Carrera 17 No 84-139, Vía Olímpica, Pereira, Risaralda
• Inauguration: 1974
• Capacity: 30,297 people

Estadio Hernán Villegas Ramírez is named after the architect Ramírez, who designed the project. It is the home of Deportivo Pereira.

It was one of the stadiums that hosted the 2020 South American Pre-Olympic Tournament. Additionally, it is one of the few stadiums in the country that was remodeled in 2011 to meet the FIFA requirements for the U-20 World Cup. It is now recognized for its oval shape, with 90% of its stands covered, resembling a typical European football stadium.

In this stadium, Maradona scored one of his best goals when Deportivo Pereira and Argentinos Juniors faced off in a friendly in 1980. Maradona himself highlighted it in several interviews.

Features

• Dimensions: 105 x 70 meters
• VIP rooms
• Player dressing rooms
• 2 Digital screens (north and south zones)
• Broadcasting booths
• 30 entrance and exit doors

Entry

Entrance to the stadium has a cost. Currently, guided tours are not being conducted.

Estadio General Santander – Cúcuta, Norte de Santander

• Location: Avenida 1 No 4-45, Barrio Lleras Restrepo, Cúcuta, Norte de Santander
• Inauguration: 1948
• Capacity: 42,000 people

Estadio General Santander is another architectural sports marvel inaugurated in 1948. It is the home of Cúcuta Deportivo and where they play their home games.

One of the most important events was when, in 2007, Cúcuta Deportivo participated in the Copa Libertadores. That same year, the stadium was remodeled and modernized with an investment of 10 billion pesos. It currently ranks among the largest stadiums in the country.

In addition to sports events, the stadium has been used for concerts featuring artists such as Daddy Yankee or Marc Anthony.

Features

• Dimensions: 105 x 70 meters
• Digital screens
• Player and referee dressing rooms
• Press rooms and 40 VIP boxes
• 1200-meter athletics track

Entry

Entrance has a cost. Currently, the stadium does not offer guided tours.

Estadio Alfonso López – Bucaramanga, Santander

• Location: Carrera 31 No. 16-66 (calle 14), Bucaramanga, Santander.
• Inauguration: 1938
• Capacity: 25,000 people

Estadio Alfonso López is one of the oldest stadiums in the country, functioning for sports events since 1938, named after former Colombian President López Pumarejo (1934-1938).

It is the home of Atlético Bucaramanga, an emblematic team in the Colombian football league. It also hosted the 2022 Women’s Copa America.

The stadium has maintained almost its original design, although changes have been made to meet modern standards. You can still observe its classic design with cement stands and an open roof.

Features

• Dimensions: 105 x 75 meters
• Concrete stands and seating
• LED screen scoreboard
• Cafeteria area

Entry:

Entrance to sports events has a cost. Currently, the stadium does not schedule guided tours. See our guide to the best places to visit in Colombia.

Recommendations for visiting stadiums in Colombia

• Wear comfortable and appropriate clothing, light cotton garments, and light colors, a hat, or caps to protect yourself from the sun, as most cities with these stadiums have warm climates. If you attend Nemesio in Bogotá, bring warm clothing and a raincoat in case of rain.
• Bring your identification document.
• Do not bring briefcases or bags, only necessary personal items in your pockets, for security.
• Do not bring glass containers or food to any of the stadiums; you can buy food inside.
• It is prohibited to carry sharp objects such as scissors, knives, or firearms.
• Do not attend in a state of intoxication.

Travel to Colombia with Pelecanus

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Contact us via WhatsApp or write to us at info@pelecanus.com.co to start planning.

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2026 update: three simultaneous stadium renovations + Colombia’s World Cup 2026 group

Three of Colombia’s four biggest football venues are being rebuilt or expanded at the same time. The Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla — home of the Selección — is expanding from ~43,000 to ~65,000 seats (the last new grandstand section installed 23 July 2026) and will host the final of the Copa Sudamericana 2026 on 21 November 2026 — the first single-match Sudamericana final ever hosted in Colombia. The Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín in Bogotá is being fully demolished and rebuilt as a 50,000-60,000 capacity venue with a retractable roof that closes in 15 minutes; construction began March 2026 targeting December 2027 (concessionaire Corficolombiana/Sencia).

The Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín began its renovation on 8 July 2026 — western tribune dismantling first (~2.5 months). Capacity will grow from 44,000 to 60,000, adding a roof over the upper tiers, 360° screens and integrated lighting; Atlético Nacional and DIM move to the Cincuentenario stadium in H2 2027, with Atanasio scheduled to reopen December 2027. In Cali, the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero holds ~37,899 across five tribunas with a World Athletics-certified Mondo synthetic track — home of América de Cali. On the international side: Colombia is drawn in Group K of the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and DR Congo — debut 17 June vs Uzbekistan, then 23 June vs DR Congo, then 27 June vs Portugal (WC 2026 runs 11 June – 19 July across USA/Mexico/Canada).

Related Travel Tips

• Tips for Traveling to Colombia
• Is Colombia Safe to Travel To?
• Colombia Travel Cost
• Colombia Weather & Climate
• Travel Insurance for Colombia

FAQ

What is Colombia’s biggest football stadium?

Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla — capacity 46,000. Home of Junior FC and the Colombian national team. Premium fixtures sell out.

Where do Bogotá football matches happen?

Estadio El Campín. Home to both Millonarios (Wednesday-Sunday) and Santa Fe (Tuesday-Saturday). Shared stadium. Major derbies typically Sundays.

Is it safe for tourists to attend football matches?

Yes in the premium “tribuna oriental” sections. Avoid the “barra brava” (ultra) sections — these are passionate supporter groups, generally safe but very intense. Buy tickets through official platforms.

How much do football tickets cost?

Major matches (derbys, international): COP 35,000-150,000 ($9-38 USD). Regular matches: COP 25,000-80,000. Premium box seats available at higher prices.

What is the Colombian football league season?

Liga BetPlay runs February-July (Apertura tournament) and August-December (Finalización tournament). Two short tournaments per year rather than one long season.

Has the Colombian national team won the World Cup?

No. Best Colombian World Cup finishes: Round of 16 (1990, 2014, 2018), Quarter-finals (2014). Colombia has won Copa America once (2001).

References

• Federación Colombiana de Fútbol
• Liga BetPlay

About the Author

I’m Frank Spitzer — Swiss-born, Bogotá-resident since 2015, founder of Pelecanus. From first inquiry through return flight, you deal with me personally — not a handoff team. I’ve driven across 30 of Colombia’s 32 departments to inspect roads, hotels, guides and routes myself, and documented it in 400+ first-hand videos on the COLOMBIAFRANK YouTube channel. Before a destination goes into a trip, I’ve been there, often more than once, and I’ve slept in the bed I’d recommend. That field scouting sits on top of a 20-year background in finance, an MBA from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, and a First-Lieutenant commission in the Swiss Army. I work in German, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, which is why luxury, golf, eco and wildlife travellers from Switzerland, Germany, the US and Latin America trust us to build trips that feel custom — not catalogued. Pelecanus operates under Colombian RNT 51402 and is an active IAGTO member.

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