Maracanã will host not just the three games of the Confederations Cup but also the WorldCup and the Olympic Games

Foto: Fernando Maia


Maracanã will host not just the three games of the Confederations Cup but also the WorldCup and the Olympic Games



In the golden period of the Brazilian national team, which won three world titles between 1958 and 1970, the writer Nelson Rodrigues coined the term ‘a pátria de chuteiras’ (‘the country in football boots’). He was describing the way Brazilian people resonate, dream, curse and just plain live football. The 11 players who take to the field in the yellow shirt represent a nation of millions, and while the ball is in play those millions of people become one heart beating only for the national side. It’s in football that Brazilians become more Brazilian, showing the world how a sport can have such importance and be such a passion for us.

This passion will be put to the test in June, when six Brazilian cities host the matches of the Confederations Cup. One of them, of course, is Rio. Three games will take place at the newly renovated Maracanã, including the final. Something of a test run for the 2014 World Cup, the Confederations Cup brings together the current world champions, the host country, and the current holders of each continental championship. Brazil, Spain, Italy, Mexico and Uruguay are the stars, while in the role of underdogs are Japan, Tahiti and Nigeria. Together they make up a competition that, after 16 games of football, will crown a new champion.

FIFA’s Confederations Cup began in 1992, in Saudi Arabia, and since 2001 its been happening in its present form - always taking place in the country hosting the next World Cup, and always the year before the World Cup. In 2013 there are eight teams divided into two groups.Brazil, which has won the Confederations Cup three times, heads up a group that also includes Mexico, Italy and Japan.

Meanwhile Spain, current world champions, will be fighting it out with Nigeria, Tahiti and Uruguay in the search for a further addition to the trophy cabinet. Cariocas and visitors will be able to see one match from each group, with the Maracanã hosting Mexico versus Italy on 16th June and Spain versus Tahiti on the 20th - as well as the final of the whole competition on June 30th. Brasília, Fortaleza, Recife, Belo Horizonte and Salvador are the other host cities. Brazil’s group matches take place in Brasília and Fortaleza. But if fair winds favour the canarinho (‘little canary’), as the national team is known, Rio’s Maracaãcould be the setting in which Brazil wins another title.


July 15th - 4 pm - Brasil X Japão
July 16th - 4 pm México X Itália - Maracanã
July 16th - 7 pm Espanha X Uruguai
July 17th - 4 pm- Taiti X Nigéria
July 19th - 4 pm - Brasil X México
July 19th - 7 pm - Itália X Japão
July 20th - 4 pm- Espanha X Taiti - Maracanã
July 20th - 7 pm - Nigéria X Uruguai
July 22th - 4 pm Itália X Brasil
July 22th - 4 pm Japão X México
July 23th - 4 pm - Nigéria X Espanha
July 23th - 4 pm - Uruguai X Taiti


SEMIFINAIS
July 26th - 4 pm - 1A X 2B
July 27th - 4 pm X 2A


3th and 4th places
July 30 - 1pm - Perdedores das semifinais


FINAL
July 30 - 7 pm - Ganhadores das semifinais - Maracanã