Arena Corinthians

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The journey to build this stadium began decades earlier when Corinthians president Vicente Matheus sought a concession from Mayor Olavo Setúbal in November 1978 for a site in Itaquera. While an original plan in 1980 envisioned a smaller 21,304-capacity venue, the ambition grew significantly after Brazil was selected to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Local World Cup Committee chose Arena Corinthians over Morumbi Stadium to host the tournament's opening match on June 12, 2014. This decision required massive project modifications, raising construction costs from an estimated R$335 million to a final price of R$820 million agreed upon with FIFA. The project faced delays, particularly due to financing issues with BNDES which added R$108 million in interest costs, but the stadium was inaugurated in May 2014 and fully retrofitted by February 2015.

In Their Own Story

The first event held at the new arena was not a football match but an Ivete Sangalo concert celebrating the club's 103rd anniversary on September 29, 2013. However, the sporting history began with friendly matches between former Corinthians players on May 10, 2014, where over 100 players took the field. The first competitive goal was scored in a unique moment of sportsmanship: Rivellino converted a penalty kick not into the net, but into his own goal because all players insisted he deserved the honor of scoring the first goal at the Arena; the shot went past goalkeeper Ronaldo. Just days later, on May 18, 2014, the stadium hosted its first official competitive match in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, where Corinthians lost 0–1 to Figueirense. The venue then stepped onto the world stage on June 12, 2014, hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia.

Reader's Guide

Visitors to Arena Corinthians will find a facility designed with steep stands that create an intense acoustic environment for home games. During the 2014 World Cup, temporary bleachers were added to one side and the north and south ends, temporarily boosting capacity to 62,200 for the opening match before being removed afterward to restore the permanent seating of 48,905. The exterior features a large, tree-lined pedestrian mall on the west side with reflecting pools that double as performance fountains during events. Granit flooring stripes evoke the club's second uniform, synchronized with external illumination designed by American firm T. Kondos. For fans attending major matches, note that FIFA rules required the stadium to be called Arena de São Paulo during the 2014 tournament due to sponsorship restrictions.

Did You Know?

• The stadium hosted the first-ever NFL game in South America on September 6, 2024, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers.
• The first goal ever scored at the venue was by Corinthians' Jadson on May 18, 2014, during a friendly match.
• Temporary bleachers added for the 2014 World Cup raised capacity to 62,200 but were removed after the tournament, reverting to the permanent seating of 48,905.
• The final construction cost was R$820 million after tax credits and financing adjustments, which was significantly higher than the original R$335 million estimate.