It has one high-definition, 160-square-metre (1,700 sq ft) video screen located in the southern section of the stadium, along with a smaller, monochromatic screen. A second monochromatic screen (of the same dimensions) is in the northern section.[5]
The initial cost was $88 million, it grew to $100 million.[6]
In 2007, Costa Rican President Óscar Arias requested that during a state visit to China that China fund a stadium for Costa Rica.[7]: 50 The Chinese government financed the construction, furnishing, and general costs of the stadium on their own.[8] The old National Stadium was demolished on May 12, 2008, after UCR (Universidad de Costa Rica) vs. Brujas FC[9] match and a 200M race where Nery Brenes set a new national record (20:28 seconds).
The president of Costa Rica, Óscar Arias and the leader of People's Republic of ChinaHu Jintao, agreed to build the stadium during Arias' first visit to China in October 2007.[10] The construction began on March 12, 2009, and it finished in 2011.
The grand inauguration ceremony occurred on March 26, 2011. National and international sports activities and entertainment went on through April 10. An official stadium inauguration website was created,[11] which informed the population of all inaugurating events.
During 2011, the new stadium was subject of a heavy investment made by the Costa Rican Football Federation to propel Costa Rican football into the world scene. To do this, the federation organized friendly matches against previous FIFA World Cup winners Argentina, Brazil, and Spain, with the latter being the then most recent winners of the tournament.[12]
El Nacional hosted nine games of the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. It hosted four Group A matches; including the opener, a Group C and Group D game, two quarterfinal matches, the 3rd place play-off and the final. The games were:
Estadio Nacional hosted eighteen games of the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. It hosted four Group A matches, two Group B games, four Group C games, and two Group D games, two quarterfinal matches, two semifinal matches, the 3rd place play-off and the final. The games were:
During the opening ceremony of the 2013 Central American Games, a fire broke out in the stadium because of a stray firework which hit the western part of the stadium roof.[13] The fire damaged some lighting equipments but the stadium was still used for the Games.[14]
Panorama view
Panorama view of the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica. March, 2022.
