The clubs
Fla-Flu and the Maracanã
Who plays at the Maracanã, what the Fla-Flu derby is, and why the stadium and the two big Rio clubs that manage it are bound together.
Book the stadium visit ↗Quick answer
Flamengo and Fluminense manage the Maracanã, and their derby, the Fla-Flu, is among the biggest rivalries in Brazilian football and is usually played there. Botafogo and Vasco da Gama also use the stadium. Wikipedia says the derby's name was coined by the journalist Mário Filho, after whom the stadium is formally named.
Who plays here
Wikipedia says the Maracanã is owned by the Rio de Janeiro state government and managed by the clubs Flamengo and Fluminense. It adds that the stadium is mainly used for matches between Rio's major clubs, including Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama. That mix is why a match-day ticket here almost always means a Rio club match, and why the booking page for the match outing names Flamengo and Fluminense. Wikipedia adds that the stadium is owned by the state government of Rio de Janeiro, so the clubs run it but do not own it.
The complex next door
Wikipedia says the stadium is part of a complex that includes an arena known as the Maracanãzinho, which is mostly used for volleyball events. The name means little Maracanã, and the two buildings stand side by side. When you search for events at the Maracanã, keep the two apart: a volleyball final or a concert at the arena is not a match at the stadium, and the stadium tour on this site covers the football stadium only.
What Fla-Flu means
Fla-Flu is a short form of Flamengo-Fluminense. Wikipedia calls the derby one of the biggest rivalries in Brazilian football and says its matches usually take place at the Maracanã. It also credits the name to Mário Filho, who coined it while Rio's football was turning professional. Wikipedia's page on the derby says it holds a world-record match attendance, 194,603, from a game in 1963.
A stadium the clubs share
Wikipedia notes that Fluminense and Flamengo still hold the all-time club record attendance at the stadium. For a visitor, the sharing shows in the tour too: a travel blog describes murals in the corridor and in the mixed zone for both Flamengo and Fluminense. The stadium is a neutral meeting place for two supporter groups with very different colours, which is part of its character and part of what a first-time visitor notices.
On a match day
On a match day the stands divide by club. If you book the match-day outing rather than the stadium tour, the booking page says your guide explains Rio's football clubs before the game, which helps if you do not know who is who. The page also says that fixtures and kick-off times are subject to confirmation by the Brazilian football confederation and may change.
Seeing the clubs without a match
On the stadium tour you meet the clubs through objects, not people. The booking page describes an exhibition of Brazilian football history, and a Brazilian travel blog lists shirts from teams that have played at the stadium and panels on famous players. The blog describes a photo stand on the pitch where you can pose with your team's flag, and says visitors may bring their own shirt or flag. Treat those details as likely but changeable.
Read next: Is the Maracanã tour worth it?
Who this isn't for
If you only want an overview of Rio's football and have no wish to pick a side, a stadium tour on a quiet day is the better fit, because a derby crowd is partisan and loud. If you do not enjoy crowds, noise or being asked which club you support, skip the match and take the tour. And if football does not interest you at all, this guide and the stadium may be better left alone.
Read next: Stadium tour or match-day ticket?
Frequently asked questions
Which clubs play at the Maracanã?
Wikipedia names Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama as the major Rio clubs that mainly use it, with Flamengo and Fluminense managing the stadium.
What does Fla-Flu mean?
Flamengo-Fluminense, the name of the derby between the two clubs, coined by the journalist Mário Filho.
Are Flamengo or Fluminense matches on every week?
No. Fixtures change, so check the calendar on the match-day booking page for your dates.
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