Arena Corinthians

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In 1980, Corinthians planned a new 21,304-capacity stadium to replace their cramped Alfredo Schürig Stadium (under 14,000 seats) and the shared Pacaembu. President Vicente Matheus secured a concession from Mayor Olavo Setúbal on 10 November 1978 for a 197,000 square metre property in Itaquera, originally owned by COHAB. The deal was renewed in 1988 with the condition that any construction would revert to the city at no cost. Decades later, on 31 August 2010, the club announced the stadium's construction with an estimated cost of R$335 million and a planned expansion to 70,000 seats. The project faced significant financial shifts when FIFA selected it for the World Cup opening match in October 2011, raising costs from R$335 million to R$1.07 billion before tax incentives reduced the final agreed price to R$820 million. Ultimately, the stadium cost R$965 million, a figure that included R$38.1 million for temporary bleachers and R$108 million in interest due to delays.

In Their Own Story

The first event at the arena was not a match but an Ivete Sangalo show on 29 September 2013, celebrating the club's 103rd anniversary before a crowd of 3,000. The first competitive football action occurred on 18 May 2014 when Corinthians lost 0–1 to Figueirense in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. However, the moment that defined the stadium's global stage was the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on 12 June 2014 between Brazil and Croatia. For this event, temporary bleachers were installed, raising capacity to 72,000 seats, though the final usable count for the opener reached only 62,200 due to VIP relocations. The stadium also witnessed a unique sporting moment during its first public football match on 10 May 2014: former players played in a friendly where Rivellino scored the first goal via a penalty. He intentionally kicked it into his own net because all players insisted the historic first goal belonged to him, sending the ball past goalkeeper Ronaldo.

Reader's Guide

Visitors will find the stadium's west side features a large, tree-lined pedestrian mall with reflecting pools that function as performance fountains during events. The landscaping was designed by John Loomis, who also headed the Burj Khalifa project, while lighting was projected by the American firm T. Kondos. Granite flooring around the complex displays stripes evocative of the club's second uniform, synchronized with external illumination. After the World Cup, the stadium underwent R$20 million in renovations to remove temporary seating and install large balconies and scoreboards behind the goals. The venue has hosted 16 games during the 2016 Summer Olympics football tournament between 3 and 16 August, split equally between men's and women's events. For international visitors, the stadium offers a unique distinction: it was the first to host an NFL game in South America when the Philadelphia Eagles faced the Green Bay Packers on 6 September 2024.

Did You Know?

• The stadium hosted the first-ever NFL game in South America on 6 September 2024 between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers.
• Rivellino scored the very first goal at the arena during a friendly match by intentionally kicking a penalty into his own net to honor his teammates' wishes.
• The stadium's construction cost rose from an original estimate of R$335 million to R$965 million, partly due to World Cup requirements and loan interest delays.
• Temporary bleachers were added for the 2014 World Cup opening match, increasing capacity to 72,000 seats before being removed afterward.
• The stadium was known as Arena de São Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to FIFA sponsorship rules.