Football in Rio de Janeiro

Football is the most popular sport, both in terms of participants and spectators, in Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro has several of Brazil's significant football clubs, and the city is home to many football clubs.

History

Rio de Janeiro has a long football history

Maracanã Stadium, It was the main home venue of the Brazil national football team. Since 2007, Nilton Santos stadium is an important venue.

Clubs

There are many successful football clubs in Rio de Janeiro:

There are also other clubs in Rio de Janeiro state

• Americano
• Angra dos Reis
• Boavista
• Cabofriense
• Campo Grande
• Casimiro de Abreu
• Duque de Caxias
• Estácio de Sá
• Friburguense
• Goytacaz
• Nova Iguaçu
• Olaria
• Serrano
• São Cristóvão
• Volta Redonda

There were some other club, which are now extinct, in Rio de Janeiro:

• Football and Athletic
• Haddock Lobo
• Mangueira
• Paissandu
• Riachuelo
• Rio Cricket
• Syrio e Libanez
• Villa Isabel

Club derbies

Big Four derbies

• Botafogo (Rio de Janeiro) vs. Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) – Clássico da Rivalidade (The Rivalry Derby)
• Botafogo (Rio de Janeiro) vs. Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro) – Clássico Vovô (The Grandpa Derby), so-called because it is the oldest derby played in Brazil'
• Botafogo (Rio de Janeiro) vs. Vasco (Rio de Janeiro) – Clássico da Amizade (The Friendship Derby)
• Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) vs. Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro) – Fla-Flu (The Fla-Flu)
• Flamengo (Rio de Janeiro) vs. Vasco (Rio de Janeiro) – O Clássico dos Milhões (The Classic of Millions), or simply O Clássico (The Classic)
• Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro) vs. Vasco (Rio de Janeiro) – Clássico dos Gigantes (The Giants Derby)