RIO DE JANEIRO: Rio de Janeiro’s famous Maracana stadium will host the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke confirmed on Thursday.
The giant arena previously hosted the deciding match of the World Cup in 1950, when hosts Brazil were stunned 2-1 by Uruguay.
“The final is already certain, even though we think that lots of other cities could have hosted this match,” said Valcke.
“This stadium already hosted the final 61 years ago. What we have to decide now is where the semi-finals and the opening match will take place.”
The stadium was built as the centrepiece of the 1950 tournament, which saw some 200,000 people cram in to see Brazil suffer a shock final loss to Uruguay.
Since then, Brazilians refer to such shock defeats as a ‘Maracanazo’.
It was only in 1958, inspired by a teenage Pele in Sweden, that Brazil lifted the first of their record five World Cup crowns.
The Maracana was the scene for Pele’s 1000th career goal, a penalty, for Brazilian outfit Santos against Vasco de Gama on 19 November 1969. (Agencies)
