FIFA WORLD CUP CLASSIC STADIUMS: The Estadio do Maracan

Estadio do Maracan is a stadium in Rio de Janeiro. It derives its name from the name of the neighborhood it’s built on; the Maracana. It is one of the FIFA’s Classic Stadium.

The full name for this stadium is Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho in honor of Mário Filho a late journalist who supported the construction of the stadium. The building of the stadium was opposed by Carlos Lacerda; a Congressman and it was Journalist Mário Rodrigues Filho Mendes de Morais who supported the project and made it all happen. Upon his death, the stadium was named after him, however the old name Estadio do Maracan is still in use.

The ground for the stadium was broken on the 2^nd August, 1948 and while still under construction, it was opened on 16^th June 1950 to host the 1950 FIFA World Cup, back then known as The Rimet Cup. Designed by architects Raphael Galvão, Waldir Ramos, Oscar Valdetaro, Orlando Azevedo, Miguel Feldman, Pedro Paulo B. Bastos and Antônio Dias Carneiro, it is an open grass stadium.

To build the Estadio do Maracan, 1,500 workers were engaged in the construction of the stadium and they were increased to 2000 by the end of the construction

 Initially it was a stadium to hold up to 199,854 and up to 200,000standing spectators. But the capacity has been reduced to the current 82,238 sitting spectators. In 19^th July 1992 there was an accident, when the upper stand collapsed killing 3 people and injuring 50 more, this made the Brazil government reduce the capacity drastically.  The last renovation of the stadium was in 2007 and the current sitting capacity is at 82,238.

The first match ever played on Estadio do Maracan was on 16th June 1950 where Rio de Janeiro won over Sao Paulo All-Stars 3 – 1 in a friendly. The first player to score the first goal on Estadio do Maracan stadium was Waldyr Pereira commonly known as Didi. The stadium hosted this match while still unfinished, some of the facilities still lacking in the stadium back then were the toilets and the press stand. It was said that the stadium had a capacity of 200,000 spectators standing and by then it was one of the largetst stadium in the world. The first World Cup match to be played on the Estadio do Maracan on 24th June, 1950 between host Brazil and Mexico, where Brazil won 4 – 0. The first World goal was a 30th minute strike by Ademir Marques de Menezes or Ademir and it was witnessed by 81,000 spectators who had attended the match.

In the 1950 World Cup, Brazil except for one match, her all other matches were played at Estadio do Maracan stadium. Brazil managed to get to the finals and they only needed a draw to win the cup, but were humiliated by a 2-1 shocker by Uruguay, this is the origin of the word Maracanzo, a slag used in football world meaning the winning of an underdog over a giant. This final game had been attended by 210,000 spectators.

Estadio do Maracan stadium was where Pele scored his 1000th goal in 1969. The highest goal scorer in this stadium is Zico, who scored his 333 goal in the stadium 1989. This too was his final goal for Flamengo

The stadium other notable achievements include a 0 – 0 Fla – Flu match of 1963 where 194,603 spectators attended the match with 177,656 tickets sold. It the highest attendance of a club matches.

Estadio do Maracan was the venue for the 2007 Pan American Games opening ceremony. On 26th January, 1980.

Frank Sinatra performed to 180,000 people celebrating the stadium’s 30th anniversary

Pope John Paul The Second held masses at the stadium

It was in Estadio do Maracan where Tina Turner in her 1988; Break Every Rule Tour and Paul McCartney’s 1990 Flower in the Dirt world tour made it to the Guinness Book of Records by performing to over 180,000 people.

The Estadio do Maracan stadium will host the finals of the 2014 World Cup, making it the second stadium to World Cup’s Finals twice, the only other stadium achieve this is the Estadi Azteca of Mexico.

Other future sporting events planned to be played on this stadium are the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Paralympics.

Estadio do Maracan is truly a world class stadium.

The stadium took 17 years to complete; the final touches were done in 1965.