Vai Corinthians

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The journey to this modern fortress began decades earlier. In 1980, with the old Alfredo Schürig Stadium holding fewer than 14,000 fans and the need to share Pacaembu Stadium, club president Vicente Matheus sought a new home in Itaquera. A 90-year concession was granted on 26 December 1978 for a 49-acre property owned by COHAB. Although funding delays pushed back plans until 31 August 2010, when construction was announced with an estimated cost of R$335 million, the vision remained clear: a dedicated home for Corinthians. The project expanded to include hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening match, raising costs to R$820 million after tax credits and financing from BNDES were secured. This transformation turned a long-held dream into a concrete reality, with the stadium inaugurated on 15 April 2014.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere inside Arena Corinthians reached its zenith during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. After hosting the opening game between Brazil and Croatia on 12 June 2014, the venue saw six matches in total, including the third-place match. The stadium also witnessed a historic first for South America: on 6 September 2024, it hosted the National Football League's inaugural game on the continent, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers. Before these global stages, the arena had its own local milestones. The first event was an Ivete Sangalo concert celebrating the club's 103rd anniversary on 29 September 2013. The first competitive match occurred on 18 May 2014, when Corinthians lost 0–1 to Figueirense in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. These moments cemented the stadium not just as a venue, but as a living archive of the club's enduring spirit.

Reader's Guide

To experience Vai Corinthians at its peak, fans gather at the Arena Corinthians in Itaquera, arriving early to witness the preparation of the stands. The venue, which underwent R$20 million in renovations by February 2015 after temporary World Cup seating was removed, offers a capacity of 48,905. The west side features a tree-lined pedestrian mall with reflecting pools that double as performance fountains, designed by John Loomis. During matches, the organized supporters lead the chants, creating a wall of sound that fills the space originally expanded to hold 66,200 for specific events. Whether attending a Campeonato Brasileiro match or an international fixture like those in the 2016 Summer Olympics or 2019 Copa América, the fan experience is defined by synchronized clapping and the relentless singing of the club's anthem.

Did You Know?

• The stadium hosted the first-ever NFL game in South America on 6 September 2024, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers.
• During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, temporary bleachers were added to raise capacity to 72,000 seats, though the final usable count for the opening match was 62,200.
• The first goal scored at the new stadium was an own-goal by Rivellino from a penalty kick on 18 May 2014 during a friendly match.
• The landscaping around the stadium includes granite flooring stripes designed to evoke the club's second uniform.