Brazil changes its stadium and will receive Chile in the Maracana with an audience

Rio de Janeiro, February 23 (EFE). – Brazil, which has already qualified for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, announced this Wednesday that it will welcome Chile on March 24 at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, on the penultimate day of qualifiers in the south of the country. American.

Initial expectations were for the match to be held at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, but the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) decided to change the match venue due to the health restrictions in place in that city due to the Corona virus pandemic.

“We want to be closer to the fans, more so in this match, which will be the last in Brazil (at home) before the World Cup,” the Brazil national team coordinator, former player Juninho Paulista, said in a note. It was revealed by the Brazilian Football Confederation.

“We respect and understand the restrictions in place in Salvador, but our desire is to work with as many of the public as possible within the framework of health regulations,” he added.

Canarinha last played for the Maracanã in a World Cup qualifier in October 2008, when they drew 0-0 with Colombia.

Juninho Paulista has announced that the legendary fiefdom of Carioca allows them “better logistics” in terms of training, in this way they will be able to use Comary Farm, the high-performance center owned by the Brazilian Football Confederation in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil, which has already secured its ticket to Qatar, is the unbeaten leader in the South American qualifiers with 39 points, with 12 wins and three draws.

Chile, for their part, are sixth with 19 points and still have qualification options, as they are just two points away from the play-off zone now occupied by Peru, three from Uruguay, in fourth, and last place in direct. Reach the World Cup.

On the last day, scheduled for March 29, Brazil will face Bolivia and Chile host Uruguay at home.

Brazil and Argentina, also qualified for Qatar, still have to play the match between them, by order of FIFA, which was suspended a few minutes after its start, in September last year, after several Argentine national team players committed violations of the health protocol against Covid-19. EFE

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