José Amalfitani Stadium

The stadium's history reaches back to the early 1940s, when the club Vélez Sarsfield built its permanent home in the Liniers neighbourhood. The ground is named after José Amalfitani, who served as president of the club for thirty years and whose era is associated with many of the venue's defining developments.

Construction and opening

The stadium was built between 1941 and 1943 and inaugurated in April 1943 with a friendly match between the home side Vélez Sarsfield and the celebrated River Plate. It was conceived from the outset as a permanent base for the club and as a venue capable of hosting the large football crowds of the Argentine capital.

Major renovations

The most significant renovation and enlargement of the ground came in preparation for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, which Argentina hosted. The stadium was modernised and its capacity increased to meet the demands of a world championship. Unlike most modern arenas, the venue does not provide seating for all of its spectators, a feature shared with many traditional Argentine grounds.

Notable moments

The stadium has witnessed many high points of both football and rugby. Vélez Sarsfield has celebrated its greatest club triumphs here, and the ground has become an iconic site of porteño football. In the rugby world, the venue is associated with the most prestigious home tests of the Los Pumas national team, when it hosts opponents of the highest international standard.

The atmosphere at El Fortín de Liniers blends two distinct yet equally passionate sporting cultures -- Argentine club football and international rugby. Home matches for Vélez Sarsfield are a traditional fixture of porteño football, while rugby tests draw spectators from across the country.

Fan culture

The supporters of Vélez Sarsfield are among the most devoted in the Argentine game, and the stadium's nickname El Fortín (The Little Fort) captures the tight-knit spirit of the home crowd. The stands come alive with songs, flags and relentless encouragement throughout the ninety minutes, as is the custom in Argentina. During rugby tests featuring Los Pumas, the atmosphere shifts -- the crowd is large and vocal but carries a different tradition from a football derby.

Big matches

The most closely followed occasions include Vélez Sarsfield fixtures in the Argentine Primera División and the stadium's inaugural match of April 1943 against River Plate. In the rugby calendar, test matches against New Zealand's All Blacks stand out, bringing some of the finest players in the world to Buenos Aires and turning the ground into the stage for an international sporting occasion.

The José Amalfitani Stadium lies in the western part of Buenos Aires, in the Liniers neighbourhood, within reach of the city's public transport. The Argentine capital is well connected to the rest of the world via Ezeiza International Airport and to the city via the Buenos Aires transit network.

How to get there

• By train: The stadium stands immediately beside Liniers railway station, the most convenient way to reach it from central Buenos Aires.
• By bus: Numerous city bus lines (colectivos) pass through the Liniers neighbourhood, linking the ground to the rest of the metropolis.
• Taxi / ride-sharing: Taxis and ride-share apps are widely available across Buenos Aires and offer a convenient option for international visitors.

Tickets and tours

Tickets for Vélez Sarsfield home matches are available through the club's official channels; for Los Pumas rugby tests, sales are managed under the rules of Argentina's rugby union federation. Following official club and competition sources well in advance is advisable, as major fixtures tend to sell out.

Visitor tips

• When to arrive? Arrive with time to spare before kick-off -- the Argentine pre-match atmosphere begins long before the game starts.
• What to bring: Expect thorough security checks at the gates and keep bags to a minimum.
• What to look forward to: If you catch a rugby test against the All Blacks, you will experience one of the highlights of the Argentine sporting year.