Maracanã Stadium facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

"Rio Olympic Stadium" redirects here. For the venue of athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics, see Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos.

Quick facts for kids
Maracanã Stadium
Construction
Estádio do Maracanã
Sisbrace
Full name	Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho
Former names	Estádio Municipal (1950–1966)
Location	Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Public transit	Maracanã Station SuperVia train services Metrô Rio line 2
Owner	Rio de Janeiro State Government
Operator	CR Flamengo and Fluminense FC
Capacity	73,139
Record attendance	173,850 (officially)
Field size	105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
Surface	Grass
Broke ground	2 July 1948; 77 years ago (1948-07-02)
Opened	16 June 1950; 75 years ago (1950-06-16)
Renovated	2000, 2006, 2013
Architect	Waldir Ramos, Raphael Galvão, Miguel Feldman, Oscar Valdetaro, Pedro Paulo B. Bastos, Orlando Azevedo, Antônio Dias Carneiro
Tenants
Botafogo (1950–2007) Flamengo (1950–present) Fluminense (1950–present) Vasco (1950–present; selected matches) Brazil national football team (selected matches)

The Maracanã Stadium, officially called the Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is a famous football stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is located in the Maracanã neighborhood. The Rio de Janeiro state government owns it. Football clubs Fluminense and Flamengo manage it. The stadium is part of a larger sports area. This area also includes the Maracanãzinho arena, used mostly for volleyball.

The stadium first opened in 1950. It was built to host the 1950 FIFA World Cup. In the final game, Brazil lost 2–1 to Uruguay. A record 173,850 fans watched this match on July 16, 1950. Over the years, the stadium has hosted many huge crowds. More than 150,000 people attended 26 times. Over 100,000 people attended 284 times.

After many changes, its capacity is now 73,139 seats. This makes it the largest stadium in Brazil. It is also the third largest in South America. The clubs Fluminense and Flamengo still hold the record for club attendance. In 1963, 194,603 fans watched their famous Fla–Flu derby.

The Maracanã is mainly used for football matches. Major Rio de Janeiro clubs like Fluminense, Flamengo, Botafogo, and Vasco da Gama play there. It has also hosted many concerts and other sports events. It was the main venue for the 2007 Pan American Games. It hosted the football tournament and the opening and closing ceremonies. The stadium was rebuilt for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It hosted several matches, including the final of the 2014 World Cup. It also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium hosted the 2020 and 2023 Copa Libertadores finals.

Stadium Name and History

Why the Stadium is Called Maracanã

The stadium's official name is Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho. It was named in 1966 after Mário Filho. He was a sports journalist who strongly supported building the stadium.

The popular name, Maracanã, comes from the Maracanã River. This river flows through parts of Rio de Janeiro. The word "Maracanã" comes from an old Tupi word. It means a type of parrot that used to live in the area. The stadium was built before the Maracanã neighborhood existed.

In March 2021, lawmakers in Rio de Janeiro voted to change the stadium's name. They wanted to name it after the famous football player Pelé. His full name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento. "Rei" means king in Portuguese. The state governor needed to approve this change for it to become official.

Building a Giant Stadium

Brazil won the right to host the 1950 FIFA World Cup. So, the government decided to build a new stadium for the event. Some people, like Congressman Carlos Lacerda, thought it was too expensive. They also disagreed with the chosen location. But journalist Mário Filho supported the project.

The design and building contracts were given out in 1947. Seven Brazilian architects worked on the design. The first stone was laid on August 2, 1948. The first World Cup game was set for June 24, 1950. This left less than two years to finish. Work fell behind schedule. FIFA even sent an expert, Ottorino Barassi, to help. About 1,500 people worked on the stadium. In the final months, 2,000 more joined. Even though it was used in 1950, the stadium was not fully finished until 1965.

The First Games and the 1950 World Cup

Opening game of the Maracanã Stadium, shortly before the 1950 FIFA World Cup.

The Maracanã's first match was on June 16, 1950. Rio de Janeiro All-Stars beat São Paulo All-Stars 3–1. Didi scored the very first goal. The stadium was still like a construction site. It lacked proper toilets and a press area. Officials said it could hold over 200,000 people. The Guinness Book of World Records estimated 180,000. Maracanã became the largest stadium in the world.

FIFA allowed World Cup matches despite the unfinished state. On June 24, 1950, the first World Cup game took place. 81,000 fans watched. Brazil beat Mexico 4–0. Ademir scored the first competitive goal. Brazil played five of its six tournament games at Maracanã.

Brazil reached the final round. They faced Uruguay on July 16, 1950. Brazil only needed a draw to win the championship. But Uruguay won 2–1. This shocked the huge crowd. This defeat is known as the Maracanazo. The official attendance was 199,854. Some say it was around 210,000. It was the largest crowd ever for a football game. This record is unlikely to be broken today. Most stadiums now have individual seats for everyone.

Years After the World Cup

Original look of the Maracanã from 1950 to 2010.

Interior view of the Maracanã in 2007.

After the 1950 World Cup, Maracanã hosted many club games. The four main Rio clubs played there. These were Vasco, Botafogo, Flamengo, and Fluminense. It also hosted many cup finals. On March 21, 1954, a new attendance record was set. 183,513 ticketed fans watched Brazil play Paraguay. In 1963, 194,603 people watched a Fla–Flu game.

In 1965, 17 years after it started, the stadium was finally finished. In 1966, it was renamed after Mário Rodrigues Filho. But everyone still called it Maracanã. In 1969, Pelé scored his 1,000th career goal there. He scored against CR Vasco da Gama.

In 1989, the stadium hosted the Copa America finals. That same year, Zico scored his last goal for Flamengo at Maracanã. He had scored 333 goals there, a record that still stands. On July 19, 1992, a railing collapsed during a game. This caused a sad accident where some people were hurt. After this, the stadium's capacity was reduced. It was changed to an all-seater stadium. In 1998, it was named a national landmark. This meant it could not be torn down. In 2000, it hosted the first FIFA Club World Cup final. Corinthians won against CR Vasco da Gama.

Modern Renovations and Big Events

The Maracanã during its reconstruction in the 2010s.

The Maracanã during the closing ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

After its 50th birthday in 2000, the stadium was renovated. Its capacity increased to about 103,000. After more work from 2005 to 2006, it reopened in 2007. It then had 87,000 seats.

For the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, a big reconstruction started in 2010. The old seating was removed. A new seating area was built for 78,639 fans. The new seats are yellow, blue, and white. These are Brazil's national colors. The old concrete roof was replaced. A new, lighter roof now covers 95% of the seats.

On May 30, 2013, a friendly game between Brazil and England was almost canceled. A judge had safety concerns. But the game went ahead on June 2, ending in a 2–2 draw. This match marked the reopening of the new Maracanã.

In April 2013, the Rio government looked for companies to manage the stadium. A group led by Odebrecht won the contract.

On June 15, 2014, Maracanã hosted its first 2014 World Cup game. Argentina beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–1. This was the only stadium used in both the 1950 and 2014 World Cups.

After the 2016 Olympics

Aerial photograph of Maracanã's playing field in February 2017.

After the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, the stadium was not used for months. Photos from early 2017 showed a damaged field. Seats were ripped out, and windows were broken. The power was even turned off because of unpaid bills. There was a disagreement about who was responsible for maintaining the stadium.

Tours of the stadium stopped because of vandalism. Items like fire extinguishers and televisions were stolen. A bronze statue of journalist Mário Filho was also taken.

The Maracanã Stadium during a Clássico dos Gigantes between Fluminense and Vasco da Gama in May 2023.

On April 5, 2017, a French company called Lagardère took over managing the Maracanã. They planned to invest a lot of money to fix and improve the stadium. They estimated needing about R$15 million for urgent repairs.

Other Events at Maracanã

Sports Beyond Football

On October 23, 1951, a famous martial arts match happened here. Japanese judoka Masahiko Kimura fought Brazilian jiu-jitsu player Hélio Gracie. Kimura won by breaking Gracie's arm. This move is now called a "Kimura lock."
In 1980 and 1983, Brazil played the USSR in volleyball matches. One match had 95,000 people, a world record for volleyball.
The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2007 Pan American Games.
It also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It was the first time the ceremonies were held in a different venue than the main track and field events.

Music Concerts and Famous Performers

On January 16, 1980, Frank Sinatra performed for 175,000 people. This celebrated the stadium's 30th anniversary.
On June 18, 1983, KISS played for 137,000 fans. This was a record for the band. It was also the first big rock concert by an international band at Maracanã.
Tina Turner and Paul McCartney set Guinness World Records for their concerts. Both had over 180,000 people attend. Tina Turner played in January 1988. Paul McCartney played in April 1990.
From January 18 to 27, 1991, the stadium hosted the second Rock in Rio festival. Stars like Prince, Guns N' Roses, and George Michael performed.
Sting, Madonna, the Rolling Stones, the Foo Fighters, and Paul McCartney have played at Maracanã multiple times. Sting performed in 1987 and 2007. Madonna played in 1993 and 2008. The Rolling Stones played in 1995 and 2016. Foo Fighters played in 2015 and 2018. Paul McCartney played in 1990 and 2023.
Other famous bands like Rush, Backstreet Boys, Pearl Jam, and Coldplay have also performed here. Brazilian artists like Ivete Sangalo and Roberto Carlos have also played at the stadium.

Other Important Gatherings

Pope John Paul II held Masses at the stadium in 1980, 1987, and 1997.
Billy Graham preached there in 1960 and 1974. In 1974, he set a record for attendance on a single day with 225,000 people.

Tournament Results

1950 FIFA World Cup Matches

Date	Time (UTC-03)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
24 June 1950	15:00	Brazil	4–0	Mexico	Group 1	82,000
25 June 1950	15:00	England	2–0	Chile	Group 2	30,000
29 June 1950	15:00	Spain	2–0	Chile	Group 2	16,000
1 July 1950	15:00	Brazil	2–0	Yugoslavia	Group 1	142,000
2 July 1950	15:00	Spain	1–0	England	Group 2	75,000
9 July 1950	15:00	Brazil	7–1	Sweden	Final Round	139,000
13 July 1950	15:00	Brazil	6–1	Spain	Final Round	153,000
16 July 1950	15:00	Uruguay	2–1	Brazil	Final Round	199,854

1989 Copa América Matches

Date	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
12 July 1989	Uruguay	3–0	Paraguay	Final Round	100,135
12 July 1989	Brazil	2–0	Argentina	Final Round	100,135
14 July 1989	Uruguay	2–0	Argentina	Final Round	53,909
14 July 1989	Brazil	3–0	Paraguay	Final Round	53,909
16 July 1989	Argentina	0–0	Paraguay	Final Round	148,068
16 July 1989	Brazil	1–0	Uruguay	Final Round	148,068

2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Matches

Date	Time (UTC-03)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
16 June 2013	16:00	Mexico	1–2	Italy	Group A	73,123
20 June 2013	16:00	Spain	10–0	Tahiti	Group B	71,806
30 June 2013	19:00	Brazil	3–0	Spain	Final	73,531

2014 FIFA World Cup Matches

Date	Time (UTC-03)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
15 June 2014	19:00	Argentina	2–1	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Group F	74,393
18 June 2014	16:00	Spain	0–2	Chile	Group B	74,101
22 June 2014	13:00	Belgium	1–0	Russia	Group H	73,819
25 June 2014	17:00	Ecuador	0–0	France	Group E	73,750
28 June 2014	17:00	Colombia	2–0	Uruguay	Round of 16	73,804
4 July 2014	13:00	France	0–1	Germany	Quarter-finals	73,965
13 July 2014	16:00	Germany	1–0 (a.e.t.)	Argentina	Final	74,738

2016 Summer Olympics Football Matches

Date	Time (UTC-03)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
16 August 2016	13:00	Brazil	0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 pen.)	Sweden	Women's Semifinals	70,454
17 August 2016	13:00	Brazil	6–0	Honduras	Men's Semifinals	52,457
19 August 2016	17:30	Sweden	1–2	Germany	Women's Gold Medal Match	52,432
20 August 2016	17:30	Brazil	1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 pen.)	Germany	Men's Gold Medal Match	63,707

2019 Copa América Matches

Date	Time (UTC-03)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
16 June 2019	16:00	Paraguay	2–2	Qatar	Group B	19,196
18 June 2019	18:30	Bolivia	1–3	Peru	Group A	26,346
24 June 2019	20:00	Chile	0–1	Uruguay	Group C	57,442
28 June 2019	16:00	Venezuela	0–2	Argentina	Quarter-finals	50,094
7 July 2019	17:00	Brazil	3–1	Peru	Final	69,968