Estadio Cuscatlán – stadium description

How was Estadio Cuscatlán created?

The idea of building a new stadium, which was to become the main football arena in El Salvador, was conceived in 1969. The initiative came from a group of entrepreneurs who formed the Estadios Deportivos de El Salvador (EDESSA) company. The land for the construction was purchased in November 1970, and the facility was to stand about 2 km south of the country's previous main stadium, Estadio Nacional Flor Blanca (now known as Estadio Nacional Jorge "Mágico" González).

The stadium was designed in the likeness of the Estadio León in Mexico, and construction work was entrusted to Empresas Simán S.A. and Constructora Técnica, Inversiones y Valores S.A.. Construction began on March 24, 1971, although the ground-breaking ceremony, attended by President Fidel Sánchez Hernández, took place on April 16, 1971.

The first match took place in the not yet fully completed stadium on October 19, 1975, when Platense and Juventud Olímpica faced each other in a league match (2-1). The match was watched from the stands by more than 30,000 spectators. The first goal at the new venue was scored by Platense player Rafael "Gancho" Búcaro. This fact is commemorated by a plaque unveiled at the stadium in early 2015.

The date of the stadium's inauguration is claimed to be July 24, 1976, when a friendly match was played there between the El Salvador national team and the team of the then German champion, Borussia Mönchengladbach (0:2).

What events have taken place at Estadio Cuscatlán?

The venue has undergone many upgrades over the years, although it has largely retained its original form to this day, such as the installation of Central America's first stadium video screen in 2008 (replaced by a new one in 2020), and in 2015 the arena's colour scheme was changed to blue and white, referring to the colours of the Salvadoran flag (replacing the red and yellow colours that appeared at the beginning of the 21st century).

The stadium has become the main football venue in the country, taking over the organisation of most matches of the Salvadoran national football team. It also hosts matches of the most important national competitions. In addition, the Copa UNCAF (later Copa Centroamericana) was played there in 1995 and 2007, and in 2002 the football tournament matches of the XIX Central American and Caribbean Games.

During the two earthquakes that hit El Salvador in January and February 2001, the stadium's structure was affected. After making the necessary repairs and reinforcements, it was possible to restore the venue to full functionality.

Currently, two decorated clubs from the capital, Alianza FC and CD Atlético Marte, play their home matches at Estadio Cuscatlán. It is interesting to note that on November 5, 2005, at the initiative of the Colgate company, a Guinness record was broken at the stadium for the number of people (13 380) brushing their teeth at the same time.

On December 31, 2021, President Nayib Bukele announced on Twitter plans to build a new national stadium for El Salvador. The project is to be the result of a partnership with China, which is expected to support the investment. The facility would be built in Antiguo Cuscatlán, in the western metropolitan suburbs of the Salvadoran capital. The planned capacity is 50,000 spectators. If construction comes to fruition, it would largely replace Estadio Cuscatlán.

On May 20, 2023, during the Primera División quarter-final play-off match between Alianza FC and Club Deportivo FAS Santa Ana, a fatal stampede occurred in the stadium as people tried to enter the venue, resulting in the deaths of 12 fans.

What does Estadio Cuscatlán look like?

Estadio Cuscatlán has a typical football layout. Single-tier stands with a rounded, oval outline surround the pitch on all sides. On the west side (including the parts of the stands behind the goals), a four-storey box building stretches across the top, with a total of 560 boxes in the stadium.

Parallel to the box building in the western section, there is also a roof covering the upper rows of stands. Floodlights are attached to the edge of the roof, while on the opposite side three masts are used for lighting.

The western section of the stands has been fitted with plastic seats. The capacity of the stadium is 44 836 spectators, making it the largest football venue in Central America. Surrounding the stadium are car parks and support pitches.