Maracanã swaps pitch, races clock before Fla-Flu, Libertadores semi | OneFootball

The operation began one day after the NFL game and must get the field ready for the return from the FIFA international break

Maracanã began the process of replacing the pitch this Monday (28). The first stage consists of scraping the field and removing the current grass. Next, the stadium staff will install new rolls of Bermuda Celebration grass.

According to the administration, the renovation follows a scheduled timeline. In addition, management guarantees that the field will be ready to host the upcoming matches of the season. The work began one day after the stadium hosted the first NFL game in Rio de Janeiro.

Why did Maracanã decide to replace the pitch now?

The change comes after weeks of criticism. Flamengo players such as Rossi and Arrascaeta publicly complained about the condition of the surface. Head coach Leonardo Jardim also said the pitch was even affecting the team’s ability to exchange simple passes.

On the Tricolor side, full-back Guga made similar complaints after the win over Vasco in early September. As a result, both clubs that manage the stadium began expressing the same concern. On September 11, the Fla-Flu consortium itself admitted the problem.

During a press conference, Maracanã CEO Fred Nantes acknowledged that the field was below the desired standard: “We recognize that it isn’t at the quality we would like. That’s clear. We are very frustrated, but we need to carry out a careful analysis when criticizing the Maracanã pitch, always based on technical data,” he said.

At the time, the administration pointed to a warmer winter, heavy rain, and an excessive number of matches as causes of the wear. By the end of September, Maracanã will have hosted 58 matches in 2026. In addition, management reported that the proportion of games played with rain on the day or in the previous 24 hours rose from 20% to 46%.

NFL brought forward synthetic fiber reinforcement

Before this Monday’s replacement, the field had already undergone an intervention. On Thursday (24), the GrassMaster Stitch Machine arrived at the stadium, equipment that stitches synthetic fibers beneath the natural grass. This gives the surface more stability and durability.

According to Lance!, the NFL managed to bring the machine’s arrival in Brazil forward. The initial forecast pointed to mid-October, as part of preparations for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. After all, FIFA required hybrid technology in all tournament stadiums.

For their part, NFL officials detailed the care taken with the Maracanã pitch before the game. According to them, league specialists identified the need for more traction and stability on the surface. On Sunday (27), the Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in front of more than 70,000 people.

Variety change still planned for December

This week’s operation does not replace the plan announced for the end of the year. In September, the consortium said it will switch Bermuda Celebration for Celebration Hybrid, considered more resistant. This change is expected to take place after the end of Série A in December, already with a focus on the 2027 season.

Meanwhile, the stadium keeps grass fields cultivated on a farm in Saquarema, in the Lagos Region. With ready-made turf on hand, the system known as “lay and play” makes it possible to install a new field in just a few days. Maracanã has already used a hybrid structure since 2022, but the model did not prevent the accumulated wear in 2026.

What is Flamengo’s next game at Maracanã?

The deadline for the field’s recovery is short. Fluminense are expected to return to the stadium on October 8 against Coritiba in the Brasileirão. On the same day, Flamengo visit Santos at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time), however, at Vila Belmiro in São Paulo.

After that, Rubro-Negro will play on the new pitch again in the derby against Fluminense on October 11 at 5:30 p.m. (Brasília time). Afterward, Tricolor Carioca host Palmeiras on the 14th in the first leg of the Libertadores semifinal.

Flamengo’s most important commitment at the stadium takes place on October 22. On that date, the team face Estudiantes (ARG) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) in the second leg of the Libertadores semifinal. Before that, the team will play the first leg on October 15 in La Plata, Argentina.

In addition, Flamengo will have two more games at Maracanã in the Brasileirão shortly afterward. First, the Most Beloved host Atlético-MG on October 26 and Grêmio on November 4, as CBF confirmed in the competition’s detailed schedule. Leaders before the FIFA international break with 60 points, Rubro-Negro opened a three-point gap over Palmeiras.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.