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The Maracana stadium complex in Rio de Janeiro is among the properties that the Brazilian state government intends to sell to raise funds and repay part of its debt to the federal government. The decision was made by the Constitution and Justice Committee of the State Legislative Assembly (ALERJ), which amended the bill submitted by the Executive Branch by adding 14 new assets to the list, including the Brazilian soccer stadium.
The commission's president, Rodrigo Amorim, explained to local media that the aim is to reduce costs associated with underutilized or expensive properties.
"The government pays a fortune for the maintenance of the Maracana complex, around one million reais (160,000 euros) per match." The project will now be voted on by the Alerj in its plenary session. According to the 2026 budget law, the state of Rio de Janeiro will have to pay Brasilia almost two billion euros (12.3 billion reais) in debt interest and amortization alone.
The Maracana is the most iconic stadium in the world and has also hosted two World Cup finals. The first, although technically not a final, but the decisive final match of the group stage, took place on July 16, 1950 and saw Argentina win 2-1 over Brazil in what went down in history as the Maracanazo, the greatest tragedy in Brazilian sporting history.
Over thirty people – from disappointment, but also because they had invested large sums of money betting on Brazil’s victory – lost their lives. The country, plunged into a terrible depression, remained in mourning for three days. The second final was played in 2014, with Germany defeating Lionel Messi’s Argentina thanks to Mario Götze’s goal in the 112th minute.
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