Maracanã Stadium, officially named Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an iconic football stadium located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was opened on 16 June 1950 for the FIFA World Cup, where Brazil famously lost to Uruguay in the final match, witnessed by a record crowd of 199,854. The stadium was named in 1966 after sports journalist Mário Filho and is commonly referred to as Maracanã, derived from a local river and the Tupi–Guarani word for a parrot.
The stadium was constructed following Brazil’s selection to host the 1950 FIFA World Cup. It faced criticism for its location and cost but was supported by influential figures, including Mário Filho. The construction began in 1948, and while it was used for the World Cup, it was not fully completed until 1965.
Maracanã has hosted several significant events, including the 1989 Copa América, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, and the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics opening and closing ceremonies. It remains a venue for major football clubs like Flamengo and Fluminense and serves as a site for international matches and other events.
The stadium underwent multiple renovations, notably in 2000 and 2010–2013, reducing its capacity to 73,139 to meet modern safety standards. The roof and seating arrangements were updated, and its facilities were modernised for global tournaments. Despite its grandeur, the stadium faced challenges of neglect after the 2016 Olympics, leading to disputes over its maintenance and management.
Apart from football, Maracanã has hosted concerts by international artists such as Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, and Paul McCartney, along with religious gatherings. Today, it is managed by Flamengo and Fluminense football clubs under a lease agreement with the state government.
While the previous Maracana stadium was also officially named 'Estádio do Maracanã', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Estadio Do Maracana. Maracana is the name of the neighbourhood the stadium was built on, on the border between the parishes of Tijuca and São Cristóvão, which itself derives its name from the nearby Igreja de São Sebastião do Maracanã (Church of St. Sebastian of Maracana).
This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of Rio de Janeiro used to simply call it o Maracanã ('the Maracana'). Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Estadio Do Maracana', which is usually anglicised to 'Maracana Stadium'. This translation, however, could be argued to be inaccurate, since Maracana refers not to 'maracana' but to the original address of the stadium: Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo ('Professor Eurico Rabelo Street').
The Maracana Stadium is one of the most iconic football venues in the world, known for its grandeur and history. It was originally opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and it was here that Brazil suffered the infamous 'Maracanazo' defeat to Uruguay in the tournament's final. Over the years, Maracana has been the stage for numerous memorable matches, showcasing some of the greatest players in football history. It has also been a venue for other significant events, including concerts and religious gatherings.
The stadium underwent major renovations for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, preserving its status as a symbol of Brazilian football and a landmark in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Despite changes and modernisations, Maracana remains steeped in history and continues to be a place of great emotional resonance for football fans in Brazil and around the world.
An apt location, with excellent accessibility and sufficient space for future development, was recognised in the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. Being strategically located, the stadium soon came to be known as 'Estadio Do Maracana'.
The club always intended to possess both the stadium and the surrounding lands, though initially, a lease was made on the municipal terrains, with a final purchase occurring only in 1950. The blueprint for the sports complex had been drafted as early as in the late 1940s by Waldir Amaral, a former player for the club.
Spurred by the club's president, Mário Rodrigues Filho, the associates managed an increased fee for supporting the construction costs for the new stadium, offered substantial donations, and some even volunteered to work on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'cement campaign', where large quantities of cement bags were donated to the club.
The construction officially commenced on 2 August 1950. Less than four years later, at a cost of CR$1.5 billion, on 16 June 1950, a crowd of 199,854 spectators filled the stadium for the inaugural match between Brazil and Mexico in the World Cup.
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