Before the Maracanã, São Januário was Brazil’s home and a title stage | OneFootball

Brazil bid farewell to home supporters in their World Cup build-up against Panama at 18:30 on Sunday at the Maracanã.

According to Globo.com, São Januário, Vasco’s stadium, served as a key home venue for Brazil before the Maracanã. The senior team played 23 matches there between 1929 and 1993, winning 19, drawing one and losing three.

They scored 85 and conceded 38, an 84.06% success rate. In the 1930s and 1940s, São Januário was virtually Brazil’s official stage, with fixtures also played at Pacaembu.

With the Maracanã under construction, the Colina Histórica hosted Brazil’s 1949 Copa América campaign. At São Januário they beat Ecuador 9-1, Peru 7-1 and Uruguay 5-1, then lost 2-1 to Paraguay to force a title play-off.

On 11 May that year, in the decider, Brazil thrashed Paraguay 7-0 at the same venue, with Ademir scoring three, Tesourinha two and Jair two.

São Januário also staged classics against Argentina and Uruguay across the Copa Roca and Copa Rio Branco, plus friendlies. Later visits brought a 1-0 friendly win over Japan in 1989 and a 2-0 friendly victory over Paraguay in 1993.

Source: Globo.com