El Cobre, El Salvador

Estadio El Cobre Codelco Salvador is the only substantial football venue in the mining town of El Salvador.

The stadium has never had a large population to draw from, yet it holds 11,240 spectators. Safety standards later reduced the number.

The history here is tied to the copper industry. The stadium was built with contributions from Codelco, the state-owned company, and opened in 1980. It was renamed recently to mark Cobresal’s 46th anniversary, but the connection to the mines remains the defining feature of the place. The town is remote, located in the commune of Diego de Almagro. Matches are played here sporadically, often in competitions like the Copa Chile Zona Norte.