Brazil was chosen in 1946 to host the 1949 World Cup, but, in 1947, football's governing body opted to postpone the competition by one year so that the national teams, especially those from Europe, could rebuild after World War II.
Opened in 1950, the history of Maracanã began to be written 12 years earlier, in 1938. That year, the president of FIFA visited Rio de Janeiro and accepted Brazil's bid to host the 1950 World Cup. The country needed a large stadium to host the event, so the idea of building Maracanã came about. On August 2, 1948, construction work began, lasting approximately 2 years.
Popularly known as Maracanã, the stadium was given this name for having been built alongside the river of the same name. The Maracanã River also gave its name to the neighborhood where the stadium is located. At the time (1950), it was the largest stadium in the world, with capacity for 200,000 spectators, about 10% of Rio de Janeiro's population, according to the census of the period.
Image description: The image shows two photographs side by side. The image on the left is a black-and-white photograph of the Jornalista Mário Filho Stadium (Maracanã) under construction. On the right is a color photograph of the same stadium, now completed and in use. In the black-and-white photo, we see wood and iron structures, indicating the construction process. In the background, there is a large crowd of people. In the color photo, the stadium is fully built, with blue and yellow bleachers, a well-maintained green field, and a white roof.Foto esquerda: www.diariodorio.com/historia-do-maracana - Foto direita: www.diaadianoticia.com.br/publico-do-maracana-tem-liberacao-de-10-da-capacidade-para-a-final-da-copa-america
Maracanã Stadium is a heritage site that brings together history and deeply important emotional memories for the Brazilian people. Because of its symbolism and its importance to those who love football, visiting it for the first time is an emblematic moment. We therefore sought to record here the first times of family members and friends at this historic stadium.
Affective memory of Maracanã (accounts):
A primeira vez que fui ao Maracanã eu tinha 14 anos, foi no dia 16 de março do ano de 2019. Fui acompanhada pelo meu tio, dois primos e alguns amigos do meu tio. No dia, fui assistir uma partida entre o Flamengo e Volta Redonda, pelo Carioca da série A. Eu me lembro de cada detalhe daquele dia, foi mágico e contagiante. A lembrança foi ver a torcida alegre e contagiante cantando todos músicas do time, ao som de baterias e tambores, foi deslumbrante. Foi sensacional, de arrepiar qualquer pessoa. Nessa partida o jogo ficou empatado mas mesmo assim a torcida não deixou de comemorar na saída do estádio. Como recordação desse dia, eu comprei um copo e uma faixa que tenho guardados até hoje.
Minha primeira vez no Maracanã foi em 2000 quando eu tinha 14 anos. Foi maravilhoso, pois eu morava próximo e sempre pedia ao meu pai para me levar para assistir ao jogo, e pela proximidade isso foi aumentando a vontade de conhecer, foi quando tive a oportunidade de entrar para assistir a um jogo e ver os jogadores ao vivo. Foi emocionante, uma experiência sensacional.
I felt moved and happy to discover and be able to marvel at the vastness of the stadium, especially when it's at full crowd capacity — seeing that sea of people singing and cheering during championship deciders is a unique and unforgettable feeling.
The first striking moment I experienced at Maracanã was the 2019 Copa Libertadores final. At that time, FUN FEST was taking place, an event with a big screen to show the game. I was already losing hope, thinking Flamengo was going to lose, but suddenly Gabigol scored a goal and the excitement began. While we were celebrating that goal, Gabigol scored the second one, and then my heart burst with emotion, complete with tears of happiness. The second striking moment was when, through a promotion in the team's fan membership program, I visited the stadium and got to step on the pitch, sit on the substitutes' bench, and take a photo with the 2020 Brasileirão championship trophy. I can't leave out what it's like to be at championship deciders in Maracanã's regular spot -- the North Sector -- and to celebrate with my group of friends.
Image description: The image is a photograph of a woman posing in a stadium. She is wearing a red and black shirt with the Flamengo logo and the Adidas brand. The woman is smiling and leaning on a golden trophy with the inscription "BRASILEIRÃO ASSAI" on its base. The trophy has a modern design, with a soccer ball at its center. The stadium in the background is empty, with bleachers and a green field.Roberta Rodrigues, 2021. Acervo pessoal
Não lembro ao certo do mês e do dia, mas foi em 2015, num jogo de Flamengo x Cruzeiro. Eu não estava tão animado, mas foi uma experiência incrível! A torcida cantando e a bateria do time tocando geram uma energia muito contagiante. Acredito que a melhor palavra para descrever a minha sensação seja euforia.
Victor and Andressa (bride-to-be), 2015. Personal collection.
Image description: The image is a photograph of two people in a stadium. On the left side, we see a woman wearing a shirt with red and black details, a white hat, and sunglasses. She is smiling at the camera. To her right, we see a shirtless man, showing off his abdominal muscles, also smiling and sticking out his tongue. Both are in an outdoor setting, with many people in the background watching a sporting event. The stadium appears to be packed, with fans seated in the stands.BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES:
MARACANÃ:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/diariodorio.com/historia-do-maracana-2/amp/
https://pt.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1dio_Jornalista_M%C3%A1rio_Filho
https://www.google.com/amp/s/vejario.abril.com.br/programe-se/dez-curiosidades-sobre-o-maracana/amp/
