The Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is renowned not only in Brazil but internationally as the Temple of Football, which gives you an idea of its significance for sports enthusiasts.
We can’t forget that football is a fundamental part of Carioca’s identity and culture, and the Maracanã is another example of that. It is the largest stadium in the country and held the title of the largest stadium in the world for many years.
This iconic symbol of Rio de Janeiro was inaugurated on 16 June 1950, to host the World Cup held in Brazil that same year, under the name Estádio Municipal do Maracanã. Years later, in 1964, it was renamed Estádio Mário Filho in honor of the founder of Jornal dos Sports. However, despite the years, the stadium is still simply known as Estádio do Maracanã.
For over forty years, the Maracanã had a maximum capacity of nearly 200,000 people, many of them standing, which, while a record, practically posed a significant danger.
On July 12, 1992, during a Brazilian championship match between two Rio de Janeiro football teams, Flamengo and Botafogo, a serious accident occurred when part of the stands collapsed, causing over fifty people to fall and resulting in the death of three spectators. As a result of this tragic event, Estádio do Maracanã was refurbished to accommodate a maximum of 200,000 people.
Nevertheless, this capacity remained very high, and subsequent renovations, the most significant of which was carried out to meet FIFA’s requirements for hosting the 2014 World Cup, gradually reduced the capacity to ensure public safety.
Today, the Temple of Football Stadium can host up to 78,838 people in much more comfortable, modern, and, of course, safer facilities.
In 1950, during the world championships in Brazil, Estádio do Maracanã hosted the final match between Brazil and Uruguay. The anticipation was enormous, and over 170,000 fans filled the stadium to support their seemingly unbeatable team.
The football match appeared destined to end in a 1-1 draw when, just 11 minutes from the end, Uruguay scored the goal that won them the World Cup. The fans were devastated, and at that moment, the term “Maracanazo” was coined to refer to the Brazilian team’s terrible defeat in their grand football temple.
After a period of uncertainty and neglect following the 2016 Olympic Games, the famous stadium seems to be making a comeback. It is now ready once again to welcome the curious and football enthusiasts who make a pilgrimage to see this famous coliseum.
If you go on your own, you can choose a guided tour of the stadium. During the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to explore various important areas of the refurbished Maracanã. The tour begins in the press area and continues to the authorities’ box. You can also view the most expensive private boxes, which can accommodate 5 to 44 people and include a buffet menu service.
You can visit the locker rooms and experience the feeling of being a football star as you enter the field through the tunnel. In the entrance lobby, there is a tribute to two of the greatest Brazilian football players in history: a bust and the footprints of Garrincha, who is considered one of the greatest, and the footprints of Pelé, along with the ball he used to score his thousandth goal.
The current facilities of Estádio do Maracanã are modern, much more comfortable, and secure. As a result, it was selected to host the final of the 2014 World Cup and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
You can purchase tickets for the official Maracanã tour online. Additionally, in case of unexpected circumstances, you can cancel your purchase up to 24 hours in advance.
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