Maracanã, where the most important Brazilian football derbies take place, has also been the setting of historical moments of the international football. Monumental events, such as Pelé's thousandth goal in 1969, also took place on the pitches of the Brazilian football temple.
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Inaugurated on June 16, 1950, the stadium has hosted World Cup games that year and a few matches of the 2014 World Cup, including the grand finale. It also hosted the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, opening and closing ceremonies of the 2007 Pan-American Games, and more recently the 2016 Olympic Games and 2019 America's Cup. In addition to sporting competitions, Maracanã has already hosted important events such as concerts of Madonna, Rolling Stones twice, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Foo Fighters, Coldplay and outdoor masses with Pope John Paul II in 1980 and 1997.
THE MARACANÃ STADIUM
The Maracanã underwent a major renovation for the 2014 World Cup and currently has a capacity for 78,838 fans. The stadium was modernized and today meets international safety, logistics and sustainability requirements. New bars and snack bars provide more comfort for the public, which also has retractable chairs divided by color and produced with certified materials, such as PET bottles. Divided into five levels and into north, south, east and west sectors, Maracanã bets on divisions to facilitate access and location for fans. Gate, sector, block, level, queue and chair are the subdivisions that will allow fans to locate their seat with greater safety and comfort. There are also seats for obese people, an area reserved for people with special needs and a tactile floor for the visually impaired.