Stade de France — The National Arena of French Sport
The crown jewel of French athletics, Stade de France is an architectural masterpiece with a floating halo-like roof.
Built for a Historic World Cup
Stade de France was built specifically for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, replacing the aging Parc des Princes as the primary national venue. Located in the northern Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, it was inaugurated by President Jacques Chirac in January 1998.
The stadium is historic ground: it is where Zinedine Zidane scored twice in the 1998 World Cup Final, leading France to a historic 3-0 victory over Brazil. It has since hosted the 2003 World Athletics Championships, the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final, and matches for the UEFA Euro 2016.
The Floating Halo Roof
Designed by architects Michel Macary, Aymeric Zublena, Michel Regembal, and Claude Costantini, the stadium's defining feature is its elliptic, floating roof. The roof structure weighs 6,000 tons and is suspended 46 meters above the pitch, resembling a massive glowing halo.
The center of the roof features a large opening that allows sunlight to reach the pitch, while the solid sections cover all 80,000 seats. The roof is supported by 18 steel pylons positioned outside the stadium walls, eliminating internal pillars and ensuring completely unobstructed views.
A Multi-Sport Transformation
Stade de France is highly versatile, featuring a unique retractable seating system. The bottom tier of stands, seating 25,000 people, is mobile and can slide back by 15 meters on rails, exposing the stadium's running track for athletics events.
When sliding back, the seats uncover the track in approximately 80 hours. This allowed the venue to serve as the main stadium for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, hosting athletics, rugby sevens, and closing ceremonies, before returning to its compact football layout.
Stadium Seating & Zones
Key architectural attributes and seating sectors for matchday visitors.
Floating Roof
The 6,000-ton elliptic roof is suspended by external cables, protecting fans from rain while letting natural light filter onto the hybrid turf.
Mobile Bottom Tier
A retractable seating stand that rolls back on tracks, exposing the Olympic athletics track for international running events.
Multi-Sport Venue
The official national home of French football and French rugby union, hosting matches for the Six Nations and national cup finals.
Visitor Policy & Rules
Read through these crucial guidelines to ensure a seamless gate entry at Stade de France.
Saint-Denis Location
Stade de France is located in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. Expect high pedestrian traffic on transport lines on matchdays.
RER Trains
Take RER Line B (La Plaine Stade de France station) or RER Line D (Stade de France Saint-Denis station) for direct connections from central Paris.
Metro Line 13
Metro Line 13 (St-Denis Porte de Paris station) also serves the venue, but can be extremely congested close to kickoff times.
Bag Screenings
No large bags or backpacks are permitted. Small hand bags are allowed following standard security screening at the outer perimeter.
Get Tickets for Stade de France
Planning to attend a football match or live event here? STRATENSO LTD helps fans locate and purchase official tickets. Submit a request and representative Gray Ramiro will assist you.
Request Booking AssistanceFrequently Asked Questions
No. Stade de France is not home to any professional football club. It is operated by the consortium Stade de France and hosts national team games, cup finals, and concerts.
National team tickets sell out quickly. STRATENSO LTD helps fans coordinate ticket searches and bookings for Stade de France matches. Submit our request form for assistance.
Yes. Stade de France is one of Europe's premier concert venues, hosting major acts like The Rolling Stones, U2, Beyoncé, and Metallica during the summer.
Spectators are only allowed to bring small bags (A4 size or smaller, approx. 15 liters). There are no lockers or luggage drops at the gates.
Yes. Stade de France is fully accessible, featuring dedicated entrance ramps, elevators, and over 400 seating spots for disabled visitors.
Explore More Venues
Discover other legendary sports stadiums across the UK and Continental Europe.
Wembley Stadium
The home of English football, hosting FA Cup Finals and major European trophies.
View Guide
Anfield
Liverpool FC’s legendary home, featuring the emotional anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone".
View Guide
Croke Park
The massive headquarters of Gaelic games and Hill 16, seating 82,300 visitors.
View Guide