Hernando Siles Stadium

Hernando Siles Stadium, also known as Estadio Olímpico La Paz, is the largest stadium in Bolivia, holding up to 41,143 people. It is named after Hernando Siles Reyes, who was the 31st President of Bolivia from 1926 to 1930. The stadium is located in the Miraflores area of La Paz, very high up at 3,582 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest stadiums in the world for professional football matches.

Opened in 1930, the stadium is home to several important Bolivian football teams, including Club Bolívar, The Strongest, and La Paz F.C. It has also hosted games for other clubs like Universitario de La Paz, Chaco Petrolero, and Mariscal Braun. The stadium’s biggest crowd came on March 3, 1989, when 60,000 fans watched a match between Bolivar and Danubio during the Copa Libertadores.

History

The stadium opened on January 16, 1930 with a match between The Strongest and Universitario, and The Strongest won 4–1.

It has hosted many important games, such as matches in the 1963 South American Championship, which Bolivia won. It was rebuilt in 1975 for the 1977 Bolivarian Games, which doubled its size and added better lighting. In 2007, it became an all-seater stadium, which reduced its capacity.

The stadium has seen some amazing moments, like when Bolivia beat Brazil 2–0 in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers and later helped Bolivia qualify for the World Cup in USA. It also hosted Bolivia's games in the 1997 Copa América, including the final against Brazil. In 2009, Bolivia had a big win against Argentina with a score of 6–1.

FIFA altitude ban

Main article: High-altitude football controversy

For many years, FIFA, the group that controls international soccer, allowed Bolivia to use Hernando Siles Stadium for important World Cup games, even though some teams felt it was unfair because the stadium is very high above sea level. Players from other countries needed time to get used to the thin air before playing.

In May 2007, FIFA decided that no World Cup games could be played in places higher than 2,500 meters. This upset many people in Bolivia, including their president and famous player Diego Maradona, who felt it was unfair to countries with high-altitude stadiums. After a month of discussion, FIFA changed the rule to allow games up to 3,000 meters and gave a special permission to Hernando Siles Stadium to keep hosting World Cup games. This rule was later changed again in May 2008.

During several World Cup qualifying seasons, Bolivia won many games when they played at home in this stadium. In 2017, a famous player named Neymar shared pictures of his team using special air masks before a game there, calling the conditions tough for players.

Events

The Mexican pop group RBD started their Gira del Adiós World Tour at the stadium on November 1, 2008.

Enrique Iglesias performed there on July 2, 2011, as part of his Euphoria Tour.

The American rock band Guns N' Roses also had a concert at the stadium on April 12, 2014, during their South American tour.