| Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen |
Capacity: 53,804
Club: Schalke 04
England's last game: England have never played in Gelsenkirchen
England's record in Gelsenkirchen, N/A |
Gelsenkirchen's World Cup will begin just three hours after the first ball is kicked this summer as Group A opponents Poland and Ecuador meet on 9 June.
The stadium, home to Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04, was opened in August 2001, immediately setting a new benchmark in the art of stadium construction with some fabulous facilities including a removable pitch, giant video cube and a retractable roof.
In 2004 Gelsenkirchen's Veltins-Arena hosted the UEFA Champions League Final as Porto beat Monaco 3-0.
Though it won't be used in any Group B matches, should England negotiate the first stage as winners, their route to the Final will take them through here on 1 July. That Quarter-Final will be the last game of five in Gelsenkirchen during the World Cup.
The old stadium in Gelsenkirchen, the Parkstadion, was used in the 1974 World Cup. Despite England's senior team never having played in the city, in 1954 two different Three Lions sides played here.
It played host to an England B international versus their German counterparts that ended in a 4-0 drubbing for the home side. And England's U18 team also met Germany here, 2-2 the score.
Games in Gelsenkirchen
|
Match |
Date |
Teams (Group/Stage) |
Time |
|
2 |
9 June |
Poland v Ecuador (A) |
8pm |
|
10 |
12 June |
USA v Czech Republic (E) |
5pm |
|
21 |
16 June |
Argentina v Serbia & Montenegro (C) |
2pm |
|
39 |
21 June |
Portugal v Mexico (D) |
3pm |
|
59 |
1 July |
Winner 51 v Winner 52 (QF) |
4pm |
All times are BST (1hr behind local time)