Football With Your 200,000 Closest Friends: Rio’s Maracaná

In the country where football is king (Brazil…sorry Argentina), there is one place that has gained worldwide fame for being the granddaddy of all stadiums. Named after the Maracanã neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, the Estadio de Maracana was inaugurated (but not finished) for the 1950 World Cup. Unfortunately for the 199,854 fans that came to see the final game (one of the many world records the same stadium has broken since), Uruguay escaped with a 2-1 victory.

While the current capacity for the stadium is closer to 85,000 (a collapse in 1992 brought about the decision to make it an all-seater stadium), this fortress is always in sight from the Cidade Maravilhosa’s many beautiful viewpoints.

Unfortunately the Stadium is currently closed in preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics so the wonderful guided tour will have to wait, but come 2014 the Maracaná will shine brighter then ever as it becomes only the second stadium to ever host two World Cup Finals (Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is the other). In 2016 it will also host the Opening/Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

Other interesting tidbits about the Maracaná:

• Brazilian football legend Pelé scored his 1,000th goal against Vasco in front of 125,000 people.
• Permanent home to the always classic Fla-Flu football matches between cross-town rivals Flamengo and Fluminense.
• Brazilian journalist, sports figure and advocate for the construction of the Maracaná, Mário Filho died in September 1966 leading to the official renaming of the stadium after him to Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho. However, the nickname of Maracanã continues to be used to this day.

Not necessarily relevant, but too good not to include...