Maracanã Penalized Before 2026 World Cup

The Rio de Janeiro government fined the consortium managing the iconic stadium for failing to meet its maintenance obligations.

The Maracanã, one of the stadiums that will host the 2026 World Cup, is facing management issues. The Rio de Janeiro government sanctioned the Fla-Flu consortium with a fine of 401,217 reais, or 2% of the annual fee, for documentary and maintenance failures in 2025. The authorities blame the concessionaire for the absence of formalized maintenance schedules and cleaning conditions deemed unacceptable. The consortium formally contested this penalty, which is suspended pending review.