The organisation of the 1982 World Cup in Spain meant that the Santiago Bernabéu, the stadium designated to host one of the qualifying rounds and the final, had to be completely remodelled. It was important to convey an image of modernity to the millions of people who would be watching the tournament live or on television. That is why the renovation project affected almost the entire stadium. 

The capacity was reduced to 98,776 seats, 67,000 of them standing. The power of the lighting system was increased and new video scoreboards made with the latest technology were incorporated. Of the new features at the Bernabéu, the most striking was the roof. A metal structure canopy was installed covering three quarters of the stands. Thanks to that, a good number of seats were sheltered from the inclemency of the weather. 

A modern stadium that has continued to adapt to the needs of the time to become an elite stadium.