Malvinas Argentinas Stadium () is a stadium in the city of Mendoza in the homonymous province of Argentina. With a seating capacity of 42,000 spectators, the stadium is the largest in Mendoza. Built for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, it is owned and administered by the provincial government.Estadio Malvinas Argentinas de Mendoza: cómo es y cuánta capacidad tiene, 3 Nov 2021 on Goal.com
The venue is mostly used for association football matches, although it has hosted some rugby union games during The Rugby Championship, as well as music concerts.Cuando tocaron en Mendoza los gigantes del rock by Federico Fayad on Los Andes, 14 Oct 2018 In Primera División matches, local club Godoy Cruz plays their home matches at Malvinas Argentinas in some occasions.
History
Argentina was chosen as the host nation of the 1978 World Cup by FIFA in London, England on 6 July 1966. Mendoza, as one of the largest cities in the country, was selected as a venue. Supervised by the National Reorganization Process, which had ruled Argentina since 1976, the organizing committee proposed that a new stadium be built in a depression adjacent to the Cerro de la Gloria, in General San Martín Park. Besides the stadium, the project would include new access roads, parking lots, and a training field.
The stadium was designed by Uruguayan Rafael Viñoly, and it was built from 1976 to 1978. A notable feature is a dry moat surrounding the playing field and separating it from the grandstand.Mendoza Stadium – Rafael Viñoly Architects. Retrieved 29 June 2026. Originally named "Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza" (City of Mendoza Stadium in Spanish), it was opened on 14 May 1978 with a friendly match between players from Mendoza and players from San Rafael. Mendoza hosted six World Cup matches: three first round matches, and three second round matches. That same year, Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza became the first team from Mendoza to play a first division match at the stadium. Other teams from Mendoza that have reached the first division and played home matches at the stadium are Independiente Rivadavia, Huracán Las Heras, San Martín de Mendoza, and Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba.
After the Falklands War, the stadium was renamed Estadio Malvinas Argentinas (The Malvinas Are Argentinian Stadium), reflecting Argentina's position in the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute.
Pursuant to an agreement with sports communications company Torneos y Competencias (TyC), for the 1993–94 Primera División season, Buenos Aires-area club Argentinos Juniors played home matches at the stadium in exchange for players loaned by TyC. TyC wrongly assumed that the club had more supporters in Mendoza, as attendance was low, and financial losses substantial.el año en que el Bicho fue local en Mendoza on Clarín, 3 Nov 2021Argentinos en Mendoza: las pasiones no se mudan on Deportea, 28 May 2020, by Juan Pablo Manera Midway through the season, the stadium participated in the first of many Torneos de Verano (Summer Tournaments).
In 2011, Godoy Cruz qualified for that year's Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, meaning that for the first time, the stadium hosted matches in an international club competition. Through the club, the stadium would also host matches in the 2012 Copa Libertadores and 2014 Copa Sudamericana.
In the 2016–17 season, Godoy Cruz drew an average home league attendance of 16,000.
Renovation The stadium was renovated for the 2011 Copa América held in Argentina. Among other works during the renovation all the seats were replaced, the bathrooms were reconstructed, the roof of the stadium was repaired and a new 128 m2 LED screen was installed, being during that time the largest of its kind in South America.
Sporting events The stadium was built for the 1978 FIFA World Cup and during June 1978 Mendoza it hosted six matches, three group 4 matches and three second round matches.
1978 FIFA World Cup DateTime RoundGroupTeam #1Res.Team #2Attendance3 June 16:451Group 47 June 11 June 14 June 16:452Group B 18 June 13:45 21 June 16:45 Apart from the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Malvinas Argentinas stadium has hosted several sporting events, being one of the venues for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, the 2011 Copa América, the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship and the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The Argentina national football team has played several friendly matches in Mendoza but only one official match: it was on 2012 against Uruguay for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.FIFA.com
Local team Godoy Cruz used the Malvinas Argentinas as venue during their home matches in the 2011 and 2017 Copa Libertadores,Debut en la tercera Copa Libertadores, 8 Mar 2017 on Godoy Cruz website and 2011 Copa Sudamericana.La Sudamericana nos llevó a Perú . 20 Oct 2011 on Godoy Cruz The stadium also hosted several Copa Argentina matches, and the 2017 Supercopa Argentina.Superclásico final 42 años después on OléPatricio Loustau será el árbitro de la Supercopa, AFA. 3 March 2018.
Rugby union Estadio Malvinas Argentinas has hosted several rugby union games, most of them Argentina tests and some Cuyo RU team against touring sides.
On the other hand, the final and 3rd place match of the 2005 Under 21 Rugby World Championship were played at this stadium, while the rest of the tournament was held in smaller different stadiums of Mendoza province.
Date Event Home team Score Away team Ref. 12 Jun 1985 1985 France tour Cuyo RU Memoria y Balance 1985 at UAR 17 Oct 1987 1987 Australia tour Cuyo RU Memoria y Balance 1987 at UAR 9 Jun 2007 2007 Italy tour Memoria y Balance 2007 at UAR 25 Aug 2012 2012 Rugby Championship Memoria y Balance 2012 at UAR 24 Aug 2013 2013 Rugby Championship Memoria y Balance 2013 at UAR 4 Oct 2014 2014 Rugby Championship Memoria y Balance 2014 at UAR 25 Jul 2015 2015 Rugby Championship Memoria y Balance 2015 at UAR 10 Jun 2017 2017 England tour Memoria y Balance 2017 at UAR7 Oct 2017 2017 Rugby Championship Memoria y Balance 2017 at UAR 25 Aug 2018 2018 Rugby Championship Los Pumas 32 - Sudáfrica 19 on As, 25 Aug 2018 13 Aug 2022 2022 Rugby Championship Los Pumas perdieron frente a Australia en su debut en el Rugby Championship on Télam, 6 Aug 2022 6 Jul 2024 2024 France tour Los Pumas en Uno on Estudiantes LP, 11 Apr 2024Los Pumas jugarán en el estadio de Estudiantes on 0223.com, 11 Apr 2024Las sedes de las funciones en casa on UAR, 11 Apr 2024 5 Sep 2026 Copa VISA–Galicia El Rugby Championship tendrá un nuevo nombre en 2027 on espn.com.ar
Concerts The stadium played host to Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! Benefit Concert on October 14, 1988. The show was headlined by Sting and Peter Gabriel and also featured Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N'Dour.
Other artists that have played at the Malvinas Argentinas are Soda Stereo (1989),Su gusto por la cordillera on Los Andes, 7 Sep 2014 Fito Páez (1989), Luis Miguel (1999), Charly García (2000),Rescate histórico: Charly García, en el Malvinas Argentinas, en el 2000 on MendoVoz Divididos (2003), Ricky Martin (2007),Concerts at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on Guestpectacular website Joaquín Sabina with Joan Manuel Serrat (2007),Sabina y Serrat añadieron un cuarto concierto en Buenos Aires on El Sol, 26 Oct 2007 Chayanne (2007),Chayanne llega al país para presentar Mi tiempo at El Sol, 26 Sep 2007 Maná (2011),Maná tocó en Mendoza para un público "apasionado" que se rindió a sus pies on Sitio Andino and Ricardo Arjona (2014),Arjona llega mañana a la Argentina con 17 conciertos por todo el país, 8 Sep 2014 on Télam
The main event of the 2012 Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia was held at this stadium.
See also List of association football stadiums by capacity List of football stadiums in Argentina Lists of stadiums
References
External links