Sports in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro has held a few notable sporting events, which include the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix and world beach volleyball finals. The main sporting event here, and probably in all of Brazil, is football. This popular past-time is a symbol of Cariocan and Brazilian pride, as Rio is home to world’s largest football stadium, Maracanã. Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, an immense stadium that holds 45,000 people, is also based in Rio and is used by beloved football club Botafogo.

Other traditional football clubs from Rio include América Football Club, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama and Flamengo. The latter is considered to have the largest number of supporters around the globe. Tourists are recommended to attend a Rio football game as they are one-of-a-kind experiences with crowds jeering and cheering with song and dance, displaying the passion that Rio and Brazil have for this game. In a city that bred football giants such as Pele and Ronaldinho, immersing yourself in this national past-time should be a necessary part of your Brazil vacation experience.