AN ICONIC World Cup stadium is set to be demolished and replaced by a smaller ground. The plans to improve the venue, which can hold 50,000 fans, has been hit by financial challenges. Reports from German outlet Bild claim there is an £83million black hole in funding. Nuremberg's Max-Morlock-Stadion is now set to be knocked down and a new ground built. Plans to increase the capacity of the arena have been ditched and features like an underground car park are off the table.
![[Aerial view of Max Morlock Stadium in Nuremberg, Germany.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2a87xgb-max-morlock-stadium-nuremberg-971427460_8e04a6.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
A capacity of between 35,000 to 45,000 is expected at the new ground. The stadium is owned by Nuremberg council and parliamentary chief Andreas Krieglstein insists they can only construct a venue "viable for the city budget". Treasurer Thorsten Brehm earlier this week called the initial figures "overambitious" and they are now "planning conservatively". The Max-Morlock-Stadion is the home of Bundesliga 2 club Nuremberg.
![[General view of Max-Morlock-Stadion before a soccer game.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/general-view-max-morlock-stadion-971427146.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It also hosted five 2006 World Cup matches, including England's 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, and the infamous round of 16 clash between Portugal and Holland. Dubbed the "Battle of Nuremberg", the referee sent off two players from each team and dished out a record-breaking 16 yellow cards. Cristiano Ronaldo was subbed off injured in the first-half after a horror tackle from Khalid Boulahrouz. The Max-Morlock-Stadion also played host to six matches at the 1972 Olympics and the European Cup Winners' Cup final in 1967 as Bayern Munich beat Rangers.
![[Cristiano Ronaldo being fouled during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/portugals-cristiano-ronaldo-foreground-fouled-3926034.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
