10) Atlético Madrid – Wanda Metropolitano
It doesn’t carry the history of the old Vicente Calderón Stadium, but the Wanda Metropolitano is amongst the few newer stadiums that has managed a seamless transition. The acoustics and close proximity of the fans to the pitch ensure a raucous matchday environment. Atlei fans match and mirror the intensity of Simeone’s team – organised and relentless.
9) Inter Milan – San Siro
The San Siro is one of football’s great stadiums, soon to be celebrating its 100th birthday. Of the two Milan giants that call the San Siro home, it is the Inter fans that deliver the better atmosphere. The Curva Nord leads with scale, noise and colour that makes Inter home games some of the most impressive in Europe.
8) Sevilla – Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán
Sevilla’s Himno Centenario is one of the most iconic pre-game anthems in Europe, but the support doesn’t stop there. The atmosphere is relentless – the home fans maintain 90 minutes of ferocious chanting and support. Sevilla have been terrible on the pitch in recent years, yet the support remains fanatical.
7) PSG – Parc des Princes
The return of the ultras brought back PSG’s edge.
When the ultras returned in 2016, the Colectif Ultras Paris brought together once-rival factions into one organised group that delivers a fearsome concoction of flares, fireworks, tifos and drums. The Parc des Prices isn’t the biggest, but the claustrophobic packed-in fans creates one of the most intense matchday experiences in Europe.
6) Roma – Stadio Olimpico
The singing never stops, the flares never fade and every banner feels like a statement. The atmosphere is emotional and intense, creating a hostile and intimidating environment for any team to visit. It is combative every week, but derby days with Lazio take it to another level. Fan protests in recent years – primarily against the club ownership – have only added to the emotionally charged atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico.
5) Eintracht Frankfurt – Deutsche Bank Park
Frankfurt’s support doesn’t depend upon stars or success – it is constant. The support is relentless, the chants are coordinated and the tifos are some of Europe’s best. Their Europa League run showed the world what Bundesliga fans already knew; this support is special. The Frankfurt fans’ legendary support isn’t just limited to home fixtures. The 30,000 fans who managed to infiltrate both the home and away ends at the Camp Nou in 2022 are testament to the lengths they’ll go to to follow their team.
4) Athletic Club – San Mamés
There is a reason San Mamés is called “The Cathedral”. It isn’t the loudest, largest or flashiest stadium in Europe, but it is a deeply authentic experience on matchdays. Bilbao lives for Athletic, a one-club focus that has created a uniquely Basque experience. Athletic’s commitment to only fielding players from the Basque region has maintained the inseparable bond between club and the neighbours.The support runs deeper than just football, it is an expression of civic pride and culture, delivering an intensely unique atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else.
3) Napoli – Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Naples and football are inseparable. Napoli’s home support is as raw as it gets. The noise is constant, the passion is obsessive and the atmosphere often spills over into chaos. The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona isn’t just loud, it’s hostile in a way few other grounds can replicate. The stadium is a testament to a city that lives and breathes football.
2) Marseille – Stade Vélodrome
The Stade Vélodrome is a living monument to French football. Whilst it had a facelift before Euro 2016, the Vélodrome has retained its historic charm that dates back to the 1930s. The OM supporters and ultras are unwavering in their devotion to the club, with the Virage Nord and Virage Sud stands most vocal. The organised tifo choreography and explosive pyrotechnics is a sight to behold. It’s volatile, intimidating and often unhinged.
NB: Why Anfield Doesn’t Feature
Big European nights at Anfield are among the best atmospheres in world football; You’ll Never Walk Alone sends a shiver down every football fan’s spine. But once the game starts, especially on domestic weekends, the volume simply doesn’t hold up against Europe’s fiercest crowds. For consistency and intensity, Premier League atmospheres fall short of this list.
1) Borussia Dortmund – Signal Iduna Park
The best atmosphere in Europe. The Yellow Wall is the famous stand in world football. Over 25,000 adoring Dortmund fans in unison across the south stand deliver a moving wall of sound. What truly makes the Signal Iduna Park atmosphere so special is it isn’t just on big games that the atmosphere is elite; if Dortmund are playing, the fans are locked in. The Dortmund ultras are a rare breed; characterized by unity and consistency rather than internal conflicts and politics. When it comes to atmosphere, nobody does it better than Dortmund.
