Argentina was chosen as the host nation of the 1978 World Cup by FIFA in London, England on 6 July 1966. Mendoza, as one of the largest cities in the country, was selected as a venue. The organizing committee, under supervision of the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina since 1976, proposed a new stadium to be built by the Cerro de la Gloria, in General San Martín Park, taking advantage of the topography of a natural depression located on the slopes of the hill. Beside the stadium itself, the project included new access roads, parking lots, a training auxiliar field and other complementary works. The construction began in 1976 and the Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza was opened on May 14, 1978 with a friendly match between a team formed by players from Mendoza and another one with players from San Rafael. During June 1978, Mendoza hosted six Fifa World Cup matches, three first round matches and three second round matches. That same year Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza became the first team from Mendoza to play a first division match at the stadium. Other teams from Mendoza that have reached the first division and used the Malvinas Argentinas as a home stadium since are Independiente Rivadavia, Club Atletico Huracan Las Heras, San Martín de Mendoza and Godoy Cruz. After the 1982 Falklands War, the stadium was renamed "Estadio Malvinas Argentinas". The new name reflects Argentina's claims of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. During the 1993/1994 seasonArgentinos Juniors, original from Buenos Aires, played home matches in this stadium. In 1994, Mendoza started hosting the annual Football Summer Tournaments, that has taken place in the Malvinas Argentinas stadium since. In 2011, Godoy Cruz qualified for the Copa Libertadores and the stadium hosted for the first time an international club competition. The Mendocenean club qualified to the most important continental tournament once again in 2012 and took part of the 2011 and 2014 Copa Sudamericana; Godoy Cruz has played all of its home matches for international competitions at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium. In the 2016–17 season, Godoy Cruz drew an average home league attendance of 16,000.
Renovation
The stadium was renovated for the 2011 Copa America, held in Argentina. Among other works during the renovation all the seats were replaced, the bathrooms were reconstructed, the roof of the stadium was repaired and a new 128 m2 LED screen was installed, being during that time the largest of its kind in South America.
Sporting events
The stadium was built for the 1978 FIFA World Cup and during June 1978 Mendoza it hosted six matches, three group 4 matches and three second round matches.
