Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Venues

Maracana Stadium

Full name: Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Opened: June 16, 1950

Capacity: under renovation

The Estadio do Maracana, officially Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracana neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final game Brazil was beaten 2-1 by Uruguay. Since then, it has mainly been used for football matches between the major football clubs in Rio de Janeiro, including Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Vasco da Gama. It has also hosted a number of concerts and other sporting events. Although the paid attendance at the final game of the 1950 FIFA World Cup was 199,854, the stadium currently seats 82,238 spectators. It was the main venue of the 2007 Pan American Games, hosting the football final and the opening and closing ceremonies.

Over time, however, the stadium also has become a multi-character space to receive other events such as shows and games from other sports, such as volleyball. After several works of modernization, the current capacity of the stadium is 82,238 spectators, making it the largest stadium in Brazil and South America.

The Maracana is currently closed for renovations and upgrades, and will reach a total capacity of around 85,000 spectators in preparations for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup, the2015 Copa America, the 2016 Summer Olympics, and the 2016 Summer Paralympics. The stadium reopening is forecasted for early 2013.

The official name of the stadium, Mario Filho, was given in honour of the late carioca journalist, brother of Nelson Rodrigues, who stood out in supporting the construction of the Maracana. But the popular name is derived from the Rio Maracana, which crosses the Tijuca through St Kitts, flowing in the Mangue Channel before the drainage system in the Guanabara Bay. In Tupi-Guarani the word Maracana means "like a rattle".

World Cup 1950

Built for the 1950 World Cup, the Maracana's first official match was in that competition on June 24, 1950. The game saw Brazil defeat Mexico 4-0, with two goals from Ademir and one each from Baltasar and Jair. The match was refereed by EnglishmanGeorge Reader.

Five of Brazil's six games at the tournament were played at the Maracana (the exception being their 2-2 draw with Switzerland). For the final, 199,854 fans were officially registered (with 173,850 paying). Brazil was beaten 2-1 by Uruguay. This defeat on home soil is a significant event in Brazilian history, being known popularly as the Maracanazo.

Modern day

On July 19, 1992, an upper stand in the stadium collapsed, leading to the death of three supporters and 50 more being injured. Following the disaster, the stadium's capacity was greatly reduced as it was converted to an all-seater stadium in the late 1990s. Despite this, the ground was classified as national landmark in 1998, meaning that it could not be demolished. The stadium hosted the first ever FIFA Club World Cup final match between Vasco da Gama and Corinthians, which Corinthians won onpenalties.

Following its 50th anniversary in 2000, the stadium underwent renovations which would increase its full capacity to around 103,000. After years of planning and nine months of closure between 2005 and 2006, the stadium was reopened in January 2007 with an all-seated capacity of 82,238.