The original Wankdorf stadium was opened in 1925 after a construction period of seven months. It had a capacity of 22,000, of which 1,200 covered seats and covered standing room for another 5,000 people. The first international match took place on 8 November 1925; 18,000 spectators witnessed the 2–0 victory of the Swiss national team against Austria. masts and one of the clock towers during demolition in 2001 From 1933 to 1939, the stadium was gradually enlarged with an additional training field and finally the construction of
bleachers across from the grandstand, increasing the capacity to 42,000. For the
1954 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was demolished and a new one with a capacity of 64,000 spectators (on 8,000 seats and standing room for 56,000) was inaugurated shortly before the tournament began. On 4 July 1954, the legendary "
Miracle of Bern", the unexpected 3–2 victory of the German team over the Hungarians in the final, made the stadium an icon of football history. The stadium saw two more major finals: in 1961, the final of the
European Cup was played in the Wankdorf stadium.
S.L. Benfica won 3–2 against
FC Barcelona on 31 May. In 1989, the stadium was the venue of the
final of the
Cup Winners' Cup: on 10 May,
FC Barcelona won 2–0 against
U.C. Sampdoria. The stadium was demolished in 2001, and a new stadium was constructed in its place. The last match in the stadium was played on 7 July 2001; Young Boys played 1–1 against the team of
Lugano in a match in the
Swiss Super League. The final
blasting of the derelict edifice occurred on 3 August 2001. The new
Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, opened in summer 2005 and was one of the venues for
Euro 2008. The band
Muse credits Wankdorf stadium as inspiring the aptly named 'Wankdorf Jam'. ==1954 FIFA World Cup==