Estadio Max Augustin

Slipping through time, let’s journey back to 1942. Iquitos needed a stadium. The old “El Poligono” stadium, also known as Capitan Salaverry, had been sacrificed for a new airfield. The people of Iquitos, especially the football teams like Colegio Nacional Iquitos, protested its loss. They needed a new home for their beloved sport. And so, near the Club Tennis Iquitos, on land belonging to a German citizen named Max Augustin Campe, the Estadio Max Augustin began to rise. The first iteration was a modest structure, a single wooden stand of cedar and moena, its roof gleaming aluminum. The surrounding area, once teeming with exotic vegetation, was now enclosed by barbed wire. The locals affectionately dubbed it, “Don Augustin’s stadium.” The years passed, and the stadium evolved. By 1968, the wooden structure gave way to concrete. New stands sprung up, thanks to the efforts of engineer Guillermo Toro Lira Vazquez. The Estadio Max Augustin grew, becoming a beloved fixture in the Iquitos sporting scene. Fast forward to 2005, and the stadium underwent a complete transformation for the FIFA U-17 World Championship. New turf, a running track, and expanded seating capacity made it a truly modern venue. Estadio Max Augustin had come a long way. Today, the Estadio Max Augustin stands as a testament to the passion for sport in Iquitos. It’s the home ground of teams like AD Comerciantes FC, Colegio Nacional Iquitos, and numerous Copa Perú teams. With a capacity of 24,576, it’s the largest stadium in the Peruvian jungle. It’s hosted international matches, from the U-17 World Championship to friendlies between Peru and Costa Rica. It’s even seen events beyond football, like concerts and motivational tours. It’s more than just a stadium. It’s a vibrant hub of the community, a place where people gather to cheer, to compete, and to share in the thrill of the game.