France may not be favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup but it tops the table when it comes to the value of the land beneath its national stadium.
New research from land and rural property portal LandSale has ranked World Cup nations by the estimated value of a standard football pitch based on local city-centre property prices surrounding each country’s national stadium.
France came out on top, with the land occupied by the Stade de France in Saint-Denis carrying an estimated value of £77.6m. The calculation is based on average city-centre property values of £10,874 per square metre across the Paris area.
England finished a close second. Wembley Stadium’s famous pitch sits on land worth an estimated £71.6m, reflecting average London property values of £10,034 per square metre.
LOWEST VALUE
Australia claimed third place, with the playing surface at Stadium Australia in Sydney valued at £69.5m. Sweden (£63.5m), the Netherlands (£59m), Norway (£58.3m), South Korea (£57m), Japan (£56.5m), Switzerland (£55.1m) and Austria (£50.8m) completed the top ten.
Spain ranked 11th with a pitch value of £48.4m, ahead of Germany (£47.6m), New Zealand (£42.8m), Portugal (£41.4m) and Czechia (£38.2m).
At the other end of the table, Curaçao recorded the lowest value, with the pitch at Ergilio Hato Stadium estimated to be worth £4.5m. Egypt (£4.6m) and South Africa (£5.6m) also ranked among the least valuable locations.
VALUABLE REAL ESTATE
Adam Morris, founder of LandSale, says: “When fans think about Wembley or the Stade de France, they think about football history and iconic sporting moments. What they probably don’t think about is the fact that the land beneath the pitch alone is worth tens of millions of pounds.
“This research shows that some of the world’s most famous football stadiums occupy incredibly valuable real estate. In many cases, the land value reflects the same factors that drive the wider property market, namely scarcity, demand, and proximity to major economic hubs.
“It’s a reminder that whilst football pitches may all be roughly the same size, where they’re located can make a staggering difference to what they’re worth.”
