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Copa America final to be played in public

(Rio de Janeiro) Authorities in Rio de Janeiro will allow Copa America organizers to receive thousands of spectators for Saturday’s final between Brazil and Argentina.



Rio City Health Secretary Daniel Soranz said on Friday that authorities were accepting each section to accommodate supporters up to 10% of their capacity.

No tickets will be sold for the event at the Maracana Stadium, which has 78,000 seats.

In 2019, around 60,000 fans attended the previous Copa America final at the same stadium. Brazil then beat Peru, 3-1.

Soranz explained that the decision by authorities followed a request by CONMEBOL, which governs soccer in South America, that spectators will be required to present a negative test result for COVID-19 in order to enter.

“There will be a great distance between people and everyone who will attend the match will be invited by CONMEBOL,” Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said at a press conference.

Brazil have agreed to host the Copa America just two weeks before the tournament kicks off. Colombia and Argentina, which were to host it, were abandoned for political and health reasons.

The Brazilians have shown little interest in the tournament, however, as their country is hit hard by the pandemic. Brazil has reported 530,000 virus-related deaths so far, but the recent vaccination campaign appears to be paying off.

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