Is it “football” or “soccer”? As a Swede, I refer to it as “football,” but what is the correct term for the world’s most popular sport, boasting over three billion fans? The debate has raged on since the beginning, and regardless of your choice, the real contention isn’t about the name of the game focused on feet kicking balls. No, no! Today, two nations will clash in the World Cup final, with France and Croatia vying for glory, fame, and a ticket home. And fortuitously, inspiration struck for the perfect construction just for this occasion.
A 16-year-old American builder, SeanBits, likely favors the term football. Not only has he played it since he was nine years old, but he also recently decided to incorporate his long-standing hobby into Minecraft Pocket Edition by ambitiously constructing a full-sized stadium worthy of the World Cup.
“I’ve always wanted to build a football stadium ever since I started working in Minecraft PE 1.4,” Sean shares with me. “Recently, I finally decided to create one for several reasons, primarily because the World Cup had just begun when my project was completed.”
Another significant reason Sean took on this endeavor is his admiration for the architectural features of football stadiums. He has long been fascinated by various architectural designs worldwide, such as the Krestovsky Stadium where Belgium and England played yesterday, which accommodates 67,000 spectators. “The Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, inspired me greatly because I wanted to replicate a current stadium being used in the World Cup.”
While Sean’s structure may not hold more than 67,000 seats, it includes all the amenities you’d find in a typical stadium. Inside, there are locker rooms and a lobby, two tiers of stands surrounding the field, a massive circular roof supported by beams on either side, and, of course, the pitch itself. If you prefer playing without a crowd or simply want to enjoy regular practice, an additional field can be found outside the arena along with a park.
“This construction closely resembles a real football stadium, as I could achieve it without spending days and days on it,” explains Sean. “I also had minimal reference images from inside, so while it’s not super realistic in the locker room and lobby, the actual part of the stadium with the stands and field is very accurate.”
To make the stadium as authentic as possible, Sean began by creating the pitch to scale. He then proceeded to shape the stands and design the exterior of the stadium, culminating in its large dome with a massive radius of 175.
“I conceptualized the structural design by looking at several stadiums through a quick Google search. I had to examine numerous photos of modern stadiums,” Sean clarifies. “I implemented elements from different stadiums, taking specific pieces that I liked from each.”
Sean didn’t just take on the role of stadium architect. One of his favorite aspects of the build was how he worked with the grass on the field, almost like a landscaper. “You can’t see it in the renderings, but I actually used the WorldEdit setbiome command and laid out a small grid on the field. About every ten blocks, I would change it to a different biome than the original grass to give it the appearance of a real professional football pitch.”
Looking ahead, Sean aims to continue developing his architectural style with even larger projects, such as a castle. Before that happens, however, he must finish watching the ongoing tournament, which concludes tonight. “Personally, I hoped Argentina would return to the World Cup, but based on all the games I’ve seen this year, I’d say England is likely to win.”
Wait, ENGLAND!? Sean’s stadium may be impressive, but as a Swede, I feel that’s pushing it, especially since England is no longer in the tournament. Not only does he insist on calling it “football,” but he also cheers for the very team that knocked Sweden out in the quarter-finals?! No, that’s unbearable!
