it required seven architects to lay down the plans: waldir ramos, raphael galvão, miguel feldman, oscar valdetaro, pedro bastos, orlando azevedo and antónio dias careneiro.

this is a statement about how groundbreaking maracanã was, and in middle of 1950, at the start of the world cup, the demanding construction works were not finished yet.

in spite of all the difficulties, it eventually hosted the cup, and the historical final game between brazil and uruguay.

the national team lost but the game was bound to become one of the greatest in the history of soccer, guaranteeing an honorable place for the stadium right in its first championship.