Stade de France 2026

Stade de France, Paris

The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, standing in Saint-Denis just north of Paris. Built between 1995 and 1998 to designs by architects Michel Macary, Aymeric Zublena, Michel Regembal and Claude Constantini, it opened on 28 January 1998, in time to host the FIFA World Cup that France went on to win that summer. With around 80,000 seats for football and rugby, it is the country's largest stadium, and 25,000 of those seats sit on a mobile lower tier that can be reconfigured for athletics and other formats.

Stands and levels

Seating wraps the pitch on three levels that run the full 360 degrees. The lower tier (tribune basse) covers roughly the first thirty rows and puts around 25,000 spectators closest to the field or the stage. Above it, the intermediate tier (tribune intermédiaire) holds a large share of the crowd and connects to the stadium's restaurants and concourses, while the upper tier (tribune haute) offers a panoramic view over the whole bowl.

Getting there

The stadium is unusually well served by rail. RER line B stops at La Plaine – Stade de France, and RER line D at Stade de France – Saint-Denis, both a short walk away. On the metro, line 13 serves Saint-Denis – Porte de Paris, and Saint-Denis Pleyel station adds a further connection on line 14. Allow extra time after full-capacity events, when stations fill quickly.

Good to know

How many people fit inside? Around 80,000 for football and rugby; concert configurations vary with the stage layout, and athletics uses a smaller arrangement.

Which is the closest station? RER B (La Plaine – Stade de France) and RER D (Stade de France – Saint-Denis) are the most direct; metro line 13 at Saint-Denis – Porte de Paris is a good alternative.

When did it open? On 28 January 1998, as the centrepiece stadium for the 1998 World Cup.