Brazil is undoubtedly one of the countries with the most historic football venues in the world. Stadiums that are part of the trajectory of Brazilian football, whether through victories, titles, or even bitter defeats like the 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup, for example, at the Mineirão. Sambafoot has brought the ranking of the top 10 in our country. Check it out below.
At the top of this list, there is not much mystery. The most famous stadium in Brazil, Jornalista Mário Filho, popularly known as Maracanã, is the largest, with a capacity for almost 80,000 spectators. Additionally, it has hosted two World Cup finals (1950 and 2014).
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Understanding the research
The survey was based on the seating capacity of each stadium. Older stadiums and even those renovated for the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil appear on this list below. The Northeast, Southeast, and South are the regions with the largest venues in our country.
Ranking of the largest stadiums in Brazil
- Maracanã: located in Rio de Janeiro, has a capacity for 78,838 spectators;
- Mané Garrincha: located in Brasília, the stadium has a capacity for 72,788 spectators;
- Morumbi: currently, São Paulo’s stadium has a capacity for 66,975 spectators;
- Arena Castelão: shared between Ceará and Fortaleza, has a capacity for 63,903 spectators;
- Mineirão: the stadium in the capital of Minas Gerais has a capacity for 61,846 spectators;
- Estádio do Arruda: the home of Santa Cruz, which is often packed, now has a capacity for 60,044 spectators;
- Arena do Grêmio: the home of Tricolor Gaúcho, inaugurated in 2013, now has space for 55,662 spectators;
- Mangueirão: the stadium owned by the Government of Belém (PA) has a capacity for 53,645 spectators;
- Parque do Sabiá: another stadium in Minas Gerais on this list, with a capacity for 53,350 spectators;
- Beira-Rio: the home of Internacional, which underwent a major renovation, now has room for 50,942 spectators;
Alternative uses of some of these venues
Some of the stadiums listed above, however, host ‘alternative’ games during the Brazilian football season. For example, Mané Garrincha in Brasília hosted some matches of the 2024 Campeonato Carioca.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Watch the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
