Wankdorf Stadium (1925)

The original Wankdorf Stadium was opened on 18 October 1925 after a construction period of seven months, with an initial capacity of 22,000, of which 1,200 were covered seats and covered standing room for another 5,000 people. The first international match took place on 8 November 1925, when 18,000 spectators witnessed the 2-0 victory of the Swiss national team against Austria. From 1933 to 1939, the stadium was gradually enlarged with an additional training field and finally the construction of bleachers across from the grandstand, increasing the capacity to 42,000. For the 1954 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was demolished and a new one with a capacity of 64,000 spectators (8,000 seats and standing room for 56,000) was inaugurated shortly before the tournament began, making it one of the largest stadiums in Switzerland and a fitting venue for the world's biggest sporting event. On 4 July 1954, the legendary 'Miracle of Bern' took place at the Wankdorf Stadium, when the West German team defeated the heavily-favoured Hungarians 3-2 in the final of the 1954 FIFA World Cup, in front of 62,500 spectators, a match that made the stadium an icon of football history and became one of the most famous matches ever played, symbolising Germany's post-war recovery and the end of the Hungarian 'Golden Team' era. The stadium hosted five matches of the 1954 World Cup, including the quarter-final between Hungary and Brazil, known as the 'Battle of Berne,' one of the most violent and controversial matches in World Cup history, and the final. The stadium saw two more major European finals: in 1961, the final of the European Cup was played at the Wankdorf Stadium, with S.L. Benfica defeating FC Barcelona 3-2 on 31 May, and in 1989, the stadium was the venue for the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, with FC Barcelona defeating U.C. Sampdoria 2-0 on 10 May. The stadium was the home of BSC Young Boys for 76 years, from 1925 to 2001, and was the site of many of the club's greatest moments and most passionate matches, as well as hosting numerous Swiss national team matches over the decades. The stadium's iconic floodlight masts and clock towers became trademarks of the venue and were among the most recognisable features of any stadium in Switzerland. By the late 1990s, the aging stadium was considered outdated, and plans were made to build a new, modern stadium on the same site. The last match at the Wankdorf Stadium was played on 7 July 2001, when Young Boys played 1-1 against Lugano in a Swiss Super League match. The final blasting of the derelict edifice occurred on 3 August 2001, ending 76 years of football history at the site. The new Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, opened in the summer of 2005 and was one of the venues for Euro 2008, continuing the legacy of football at the Wankdorf site.

Wankdorf Stadium was built in just seven months in 1925, with an initial capacity of 22,000, of which 1,200 were covered seats and covered standing room for another 5,000 people, reflecting the rapid development of football in Switzerland in the early 20th century. The stadium's most famous moment was the 'Miracle of Bern' on 4 July 1954, when West Germany defeated the heavily-favoured Hungary 3-2 in the World Cup final in front of 62,500 spectators, a match that became an icon of football history and was later made into a German film, 'The Miracle of Bern,' in 2003. The match is considered one of the most important sporting events of the 20th century, symbolising Germany's post-war recovery and the end of the Hungarian 'Golden Team' era, and is still celebrated in Germany as a national myth. For the 1954 World Cup, the stadium was demolished and completely rebuilt with a capacity of 64,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in Switzerland and a fitting venue for the World Cup final. The stadium hosted the 'Battle of Berne' on 27 June 1954, the quarter-final between Hungary and Brazil, one of the most violent and controversial matches in World Cup history, which ended 4-2 to Hungary but was marred by three red cards and a post-match brawl that continued into the dressing rooms. The stadium hosted two major European club finals: the 1961 European Cup final, in which Benfica defeated Barcelona 3-2, and the 1989 European Cup Winners' Cup final, in which Barcelona defeated Sampdoria 2-0, making it one of the few stadiums to host both the European Cup final and the Cup Winners' Cup final. The stadium was the home of BSC Young Boys for 76 years, from 1925 to 2001, making it one of the longest-serving homes of any major Swiss club. The stadium's iconic floodlight masts and clock towers became trademarks of the venue and were among the most recognisable features of any stadium in Switzerland, with the clock towers being a particularly distinctive feature that made the stadium instantly recognisable. The last match at the Wankdorf Stadium was played on 7 July 2001, when Young Boys played 1-1 against Lugano in a Swiss Super League match, and the final blasting of the derelict edifice occurred on 3 August 2001, ending 76 years of football history at the site. The new Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, opened in the summer of 2005 and was one of the venues for Euro 2008, continuing the legacy of football at the Wankdorf site, with the new stadium built on the same location as the historic venue.