Manchester United have just announced plans to leave Old Trafford and build a new stadium.
In an official statement released on Tuesday morning, the Red Devils revealed their intention to regenerate the Old Trafford area with a new state of the art arena, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe saying: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.
“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport. By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state of the art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home.”
This is your future.
Your home.
Your United.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/cK7yVnOm1X
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 11, 2025
In light of this announcement, many have taken to Google to ask a range of questions – querying whether the new Old Trafford would be the biggest football stadium in Europe, to when the existing Old Trafford was built.
Would the new Old Trafford be the largest football stadium on the planet?
If Manchester United actually manage to get this 100,000-seater stadium built, it would still not be the biggest footballing arena in the world.
That title goes to the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium located in Pyongyang, North Korea – an arena which holds 114,000 people.
It is the home ground for the Korea DPR national football team and the Korea DPR women’s national football team.
In fact, the new Old Trafford – which rival clubs could have to pay for – would not even be the second, third or fourth largest football stadium on the planet, as you can see below.
- Rungrado 1st of May Stadium (114,000)
- Michigan Stadium (107,601)
- Ohio Stadium (102,780)
- Melbourne Cricket Ground – home of Melbourne FC (100,024)
- FNB Stadium (94,736)
Biggest football stadiums in Europe
In terms of football clubs in Europe, the new Old Trafford would be the biggest football arena – although Barcelona intend to make the new Camp Nou, which is currently under construction, with a capacity of 105,000.
- Camp Nou (expected capacity) – 105,000
- Old Trafford (expected capacity) – 100,000
The current largest football stadium in Europe is Wembley – which boasts 90,000 seats – with Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu not far behind on 85,000 seats.
When was Old Trafford built?
Construction work to build the current Old Trafford started back in 1909 – and was officially opened on 19th February 1910.
Scottish architect Archibald Leitch designed the stadium and initially planned to include 100,000 seats, but as costs began to rise, only an 80,000-seater could be afforded by Manchester United, who want Victor Osimhen.
Is Old Trafford in Salford?
Another trending question asks whether Old Trafford is located in Salford.
Old Trafford is not based in the city of Salford – it is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.
Etihad Stadium capacity
While the new Old Trafford would not be the biggest football stadium on the planet, it would become the largest football arena in England, with almost twice as many seats as the Etihad Stadium, the home of bitter rivals Manchester City which houses 53,400 fans.
