The Renovation of the Stadium That Will Host the Final of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana in Barranquilla
Barranquilla is finalizing the renovation of the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, which will increase its capacity to 65,000 spectators.
The Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez stadium in the Colombian city of Barranquilla is entering the final stretch of a major remodeling that will expand its capacity from 43,000 to 65,000 spectators before hosting the Copa Sudamericana final on November 21.
The match will be played by Boca Juniors, which eliminated Vasco da Gama on Tuesday after winning 1-3 in Brazil in the second leg of the semifinals, and the winner of the tie between Atlético Mineiro and Montevideo City Torque, in which the Galo won 3-0 in the first leg.
The 'Coloso de la Ciudadela 20 de Julio', named after the populous district where it is located in southern Barranquilla, will also become a venue for massive concerts and shows.
The works, begun in January 2026 with an investment of more than 45 million dollars, increased the venue's capacity and turned it into the largest and most modern stadium in the country.
By removing the athletics track and lowering the pitch by about four meters, the new stands are closer to the grass, improving visibility and the fan experience.
For concerts and mass events, capacity can reach 75,000 spectators by using the field area thanks to the new hybrid Bermuda 419 grass, which combines natural grass with synthetic fibers, plus an automated drainage and irrigation system adapted to the tropical climate.
Positive side
A month before the Copa Sudamericana final, Barranquilla mayor Alejandro Char highlighted the progress of the works and the modernization of the sports venue.
"The skin of the Supermetro is lighting up! Lighting tests are advancing on the facade of the eastern sector, where a modern LED system will allow the creation of light shows and animations that will fill the colossus of the Ciudadela with life and color. The Supermetro is getting ready to show off a spectacular image!" expressed Char.
The facade features a system of more than 74,000 LED lights that can project colors, images and animations, while 4K screens and a 500-meter LED strip surround the stadium.
The Plaza Monumental, covering 16,000 square meters around the stadium, completes the surroundings of the main sports venue in the Colombian Caribbean.
Another highlight of the remodeling is that seat installation is about 90% complete, with more than 10,800 retractable seats offering greater comfort; restrooms will increase from about 300 to nearly 900; and four modern locker rooms will be enabled, one exclusively for the Colombian national team and another for Junior.
Access points were expanded from four to fourteen, and VIP zones, hospitality areas, press rooms and spaces for museums dedicated to Junior and the Colombian national team were added.
History of the Metropolitano
Inaugurated on May 11, 1986 with a friendly match between Junior and the Uruguay national team, the Metropolitano was named after Barranquilla striker Roberto Meléndez in 1991, the first Colombian to play abroad.
Since then it has consolidated as the home of Junior and the Colombian national team. Its stands witnessed qualification for the World Cups in Italy 1990, United States 1994, France 1998, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and United States, Mexico and Canada 2026.
It hosted the group stage of the 2001 Copa América, which Colombia won at home, and Carlos 'El Pibe' Valderrama's farewell match in 2004, with figures such as Diego Maradona in attendance. It also hosted matches of the 2011 U-20 World Cup and multiple finals of the Colombian tournament with Junior as the protagonist.
Conmebol's approval
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) carried out technical visits between late September and early October to supervise infrastructure, access and operational spaces, and confirmed that Barranquilla remains the host city and is progressing according to schedule, dispelling rumors of a possible change.
Barranquilla is preparing to match the scale of the event. The hotel sector, with nearly 300 establishments and more than 9,000 rooms, expects occupancy close to full, similar to that recorded during Carnival.
Cotelco Atlántico, the guild that groups the hotel sector, projects an economic impact of more than 60 million dollars and the arrival of tens of thousands of fans.
For local authorities, the modernization of the Metropolitano not only positions Barranquilla as a host of continental finals but also seeks to consolidate it as a destination for major musical shows, with an impact on tourism and the local economy that will extend beyond November 21. EFE
