Six Cities, Seven Stadia Named for Rio 2016 Football Event

Fifa have announced that six cities and seven stadiums will serve as venues for football matches at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

The host city of Rio de Janeiro will provide two grounds in the Olympic stadium and the Maracana, venue of the 2014 World Cup final.

Matches will also take place at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia in the capital city, the Arena Amazonia in Manaus, the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo and the Estadio Fonte Nova in Salvador.

The Maracana Stadium Will Serve as One of Two Football Venues in Rio de Janeiro. Image: Getty.
The Maracana Stadium Will Serve as One of Two Football Venues in Rio de Janeiro. Image: Getty.

“The Olympic football tournament will be a fantastic opportunity to revive the great atmosphere seen during the 2014 Fifa World Cup, not only in Rio de Janeiro but also in the other five cities,” Marco Polo Del Nero, chairman of the organising committee for the Games’ football tournaments said.

Del Nero added in a press release: “They did an excellent job in 2014 and now they can use the World Cup stadiums and infrastructure already in place to unite the country for a major event once a more.”

Sixteen men’s teams and 12 women’s teams will compete in 58 matches between 3 August and 20 August.

Nigeria won gold and silver in the 1996 and 2008 Games respectively and, after missing out on London 2012, are bidding to return to the men’s event in Rio.

Olympic gold is the only major title to have eluded Brazil after five runners-up berths and two bronze medal placements.

All qualified teams will comprise of a pool of under-23 youngsters but three over-aged players are permitted in each squad.