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Football fans tend to think football is a pretty big deal.

Premier League teams are always seemingly on the brink of world domination, with shirt sales rocketing in every nook and cranny of the globe.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are modern-day matinée stars, lighting up billboards, TV screens and magazine covers as well as enchanting us with their sporting ability.

It stands to reason, then, that the world's most popular sport should have the world's biggest stadiums, so the ecstatic masses can flood in to see their heroes.

Right? Wrong.

In fact, some of football's biggest arenas – including Wembley and the Nou Camp – are dwarfed by stadiums dedicated to the other football they play across the pond. Not necessarily even NFL, either... the college game also has incredible clout and the grounds to match.

To underline the point, we take a look at the 20 biggest sports stadiums in the world, in thrilling reverse order.

How many can you tick off?

FUTURE STADIUMS:

20. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – 88,548 capacity

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Affectionately known as “The Swamp”, the Florida Gators' home field was originally built in a shallow sinkhole, which, combined with the steep stands, enhances the effect of the humid Florida climate - so much so that it prompted a University of Florida researcher to invent Gatorade as a way to combat dehydration.

19. Wembley – 90,000 capacity

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You know this one. The new Wembley was finally finished in 2007 after a long and costly construction process as it replaced the old Twin Tower-adorned stadium, which was demolished in 2002. The biggest stadium in the UK.

18. Memorial Stadium – 85,000 capacity

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No, not Bristol Rovers’ ground, but the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nicknamed the “Sea of Red” owing to the home fans’ match day attire, the stadium has been sold out every week since 1962, holding the NCAA record of 344 consecutive sellouts.

17. Cotton Bowl – 91,100 capacity

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Adhering to the cliche that they do everything big in Texas, the Cotton Bowl has hosted a number of sports teams throughout the years, with the NFL, NASL, MLS and even World Cup all passing through.

16. Rose Bowl – 92,542 capacity

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A heavyweight stadium if ever there was one. Was the setting for Roberto Baggio’s penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final, has hosted five Super Bowls and is currently the home of the UCLA Bruins and the annual Rose Bowl Game - historically the biggest college fixture of the lot.

15. Sanford Stadium – 92,746 capacity

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Home of the Georgia Bulldogs since 1929, the Athens stadium also played host to the 1996 Olympic Football tournament which saw a Nwankwo Kanu-inspired Nigeria team land the gold ahead.

14. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (93,607)

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The first stadium to host the summer Olympics twice (1932 and 1984), the LA Coliseum is perhaps best known for housing the LA Raiders in the 1980s and 90s, whose fans created the “Black Hole”, the NFL’s most intimidating section of fans.

The Raiders left for Oakland in 1994 and since then the stadium has had no permanent tenant, as legal rows continue over who was responsible for the upkeep of the venue.

13. Soccer City – 94,713 capacity

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Originally opened in the 80s but renovated for 2010, this stadium is steeped in history. It was there, on the edge of Soweto, that Nelson Mandela gave his first speech after being released from prison in 1990.

Designed to look like an African pot, Soccer City hosted Spain's World Cup final win over the Netherlands... although there have been questions asked over its post-tournament legacy.

12. Estadio Azteca – 95,500 capacity

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This huge arena in Mexico City will be forever associated with the World Cup, having hosted not one but two finals since opening in 1966. Brazil spanked Italy there in 1970 before Argentina saw off West Germany 16 years later

Nicknamed the 'Colossus of Saint Ursula' (awesome), the stadium also has a special place in English hearts. It was there that Diego Maradona scored his 'Hand of God' goal.

11. Camp Nou – 99,786 capacity

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Perhaps the most iconic football stadium in the world (sorry, Ricoh Arena), the Camp Nou has been home to FC Barcelona since construction finished in 1957.

The pitch is below ground level, meaning you don't fully appreciate the scale of the thing until you are inside... at which point it is hard to deny its beauty. There has been talk of Barça building a new ground, but an expansion is now looking more likely. That is a good thing.

10. Melbourne Cricket Ground – 100,024 capacity

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The MCG is defined by that magisterial circular sweep, which ensures a thrilling view from every angle. It is the world's biggest cricket ground and also plays host to Aussie Rules matches.

Originally opened in the 1850s, it has undergone two major redevelopments to bring it up to date... although it still retains the charm of the past and is protected due to its presence on the Australian National Heritage List.

9. Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium – 100,119 capacity

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At just over 100,000 the Texas Longhorns' intimidating arena is the largest in the Big 12 and second biggest in the state.

Despite something of a title drought of late the Longhorns remain the biggest cash cow in the sport and are reportedly worth over $115million. As a result their monster stadium is one of the best in the United States.

8. Bryant-Denny Stadium – 101,821 capacity

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Partially named after both Paul "Bear" Bryant and George H. Denny, the 101,821 capacity home of the University of Alabama football team is one of the most daunting and feared in all of college football.

Backed by a vociferous home support and the coaching of Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide have become one of the most successful football programmes in history.

7. Tiger Stadium – 102,321 capacity

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Known most popularly as 'Death Valley' the LSU Tigers' stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is one of the biggest in the nation. So big is it in fact that when at full capacity it ranks as the fifth largest 'city' in the whole of the state.

6. Neyland Stadium – 102,455 capacity

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The Tennessee Vols' Neyland Stadium was actually even bigger before undergoing slight reductions to its current 102,455 capacity. Once home to future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning it's named after legendary UT coach Robert Neyland.

5. Kyle Field – 102,512 capacity

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Built in the heart of Texas the original home of 'The 12th Man' has been the stadium of choice for the Texas A&M Aggies since all the way back in 1904.

Such is its gargantuan scale Kyle Field actually boasts a bigger seating capacity than Texas' most famous NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys' $2billion AT&T Stadium.

4. Ohio Stadium – 104,944 capacity

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The Shoe as it's known by the locals is home to the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

Throughout the Big Ten season thousands congregate and belt out O-H-I-O and Seven Nation Army during matches while the college's marching band are known the world over for their wildly creative and colourful on-field mosaics.

3. Beaver Stadium – 107,572 capacity

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The Penn State Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania call Beaver their home, where legions of raucous fans pile in every week during the college football season.

Known as one of the toughest venues in the nation the student section was recognised in 2008 as the best in the country.

2. Michigan Stadium – 107,601 capacity

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"The Big House" and the biggest college football stadium of all. Home to the University of Michigan Wolverines and their larger than life coach Jim Harbaugh it regularly sees astronomic attendances and can hold over 115,000 on occasion.

The largest-ever college football crowd was recorded there in 2013 - a clash between the Wolverines and their bitter rivals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where an eye-watering 115,109 watched on.

1. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium – 150,000 capacity

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The undisputed and largest by a long chalk, North Korea's national stadium seats a staggering 150,000 people.

Named after the Rungrado Islet in the Taedong River where it is built, it hosts football matches and athletics events but is most readily used for the world famous Mass Games held to celebrate former leader Kim II-sung and the North Korean nation. So large is it you could fit Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in it TWICE.