Imagine being part of a crowd of almost 200000 people. This happened at the Maracanã. This stadium is officially named Journalist Mário Filho Stadium. But everyone knows it as the Maracanã.
Opened in 1950, the Maracanã quickly became known as the Temple of Football. It’s more than just a stadium to the people of Rio. Its history goes beyond the city and Brazil. The Maracanã is in the Maracanã neighborhood. This area gets its name from the Rio Maracanã. This river now runs through a canal.
Initially the stadium was called Estádio Municipal. That was between 1950 and 1966. Then it was renamed in honor of Mário Filho. He was a journalist who supported building the Maracanã.
The Maracanã has hosted two World Cup finals. It also held the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games. Even Pope John Paul II gave blessings here.
Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, and Kiss have all performed at the Maracanã. The stadium even hosted Rock in Rio. For over 70 years, the Maracanã has been a stage for countless stories.
The stadium was built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Brazil lost to Uruguay in the final game. The official attendance was about 173850 people. Some say over 200000 were actually there. This game became known as the Maracanazo.
Many major football clubs in Rio de Janeiro play here. These include Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, and Vasco da Gama. The stadium has also hosted concerts and sporting events. The Maracanã was rebuilt for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup. It will likely host the final for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Maracanã hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics. However the track events took place elsewhere. The stadium also hosted the 2020 and 2023 Copa Libertadores finals.
In March 2021, there was a vote to rename the stadium after Pelé. It would have been called the Edson Arantes do Nascimento Rei Pelé stadium. But the governor of Rio de Janeiro had to approve the change.
Construction of the Maracanã began in 1948. It was a race to finish before the 1950 World Cup. About 1500 people worked on the stadium. Another 2000 joined in the final months. Though it was used in 1950, construction wasn’t complete until 1965.
The first game at the Maracanã was on June 16, 1950. Rio de Janeiro All-Stars beat São Paulo All-Stars 3-1. Didi scored the first goal ever at the stadium.
In the first World Cup match here, Brazil beat Mexico 4-0. Ademir scored the first competitive goal at the stadium.
Since 1950, the Maracanã has mainly been used for club games. It has also hosted domestic cup finals. In 1969, Pelé scored his 1000th career goal here. This was against Vasco da Gama.
In 1992, an upper stand collapsed. This led to the death of three spectators and injured 50 others. The stadium became an all-seater stadium in the late 1990s. It was classified as a national landmark in 1998.
After its 50th anniversary, the Maracanã was renovated. This increased capacity to around 103000. After further renovations for the 2014 World Cup, the capacity was reduced. Now it holds 73139 people.
The new seats are yellow, blue, and white. These colors combined with the green field represent the Brazilian national colors.
The Maracanã stands as a symbol. It represents Brazilian culture and the beautiful game. It is a must-see for any football fan.