Estádio Mané Garrincha

Overview

About the stadium

The Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha (now commercially Arena BRB Mané Garrincha) is the national stadium of Brazil's capital, Brasília. It is named after the legendary winger Mané Garrincha (1933–1983), a two-time World Cup winner in 1958 and 1962. After a complete rebuild its capacity reached 72,788, making it Brazil's second-largest stadium after the Maracanã. Its defining feature is a striking ring of slender white columns that encircles the entire structure, giving it the look of a modern temple.

A multi-use national arena

The stadium is designed as a multi-use venue, hosting not only football but also concerts, cultural events and public celebrations. Set within the Monumental Axis of the planned capital, it is also one of the most expensive football grounds ever built.

History

Journey through time

The original stadium was built between 1972 and 1974 and opened on 10 January 1974 with a capacity of 45,200. In 2010 it was demolished and rebuilt from the ground up to host the World Cup.

From rebuild to major tournaments

The new arena was officially reopened on 18 May 2013. Costs soared to roughly US$900 million, against an original budget of US$300 million, making it one of the most expensive football stadiums in the world and a focus of intense criticism. In June 2013 it hosted the opening match of the FIFA Confederations Cup (Brazil 3–0 Japan before 67,423 fans). During the 2014 FIFA World Cup it staged seven matches, including the third-place play-off, and in 2016 it was one of the venues for the Olympic football tournament, hosting ten matches.

Atmosphere

Matchday

The mood here is set above all by the architecture. The open, roofless bowl and the imposing colonnade of white pillars make it one of the most visually arresting stadiums in the world. The arena was built with sustainability in mind — a photovoltaic system on its roof and green technologies earned it the prestigious LEED Platinum certification.

A stadium without a big resident club

Brasília has no major top-flight club, so the ground lacks a regular home team with a passionate, drum-beating crowd. Instead it comes alive mainly for large concerts, national-team fixtures and state events, when tens of thousands gather beneath its famous ring of columns.

Practical info

Visiting the stadium

The stadium sits in the heart of Brasília, close to the Monumental Axis (Eixo Monumental) and the government district.

Getting there and what to see

Location: central part of the city, by the Monumental Axis, easily reached by car or bus.
Transport: nearest metro stop is Estação Central; numerous bus routes serve the area.
Nearby: the Esplanada dos Ministérios with its government buildings, the Cathedral of Brasília, the National Museum and the TV Tower.
Tip: combine your visit with a tour of Oscar Niemeyer's modernist architecture, for which the capital is world-famous.