Estádio Ilha do Retiro, Football stadium in Retiro district, Recife, Brazil.
Estádio Ilha do Retiro, officially Estádio Adelmar da Costa Carvalho, is a football ground in the Ilha do Retiro neighbourhood of Recife, owned by Sport Club do Recife. Its pitch measures 105 by 78 metres, and the ground holds a maximum of 32,500 people, though safety rules allow up to 26,345 spectators. The stands are painted in the club's red and black, split by a diagonal band of yellow steps, with a white band along the top reading "RT CAMPEAO BRASILEIRO DE".
The stadium opened on July 4, 1937, when Sport Club Recife played Santa Cruz in its inaugural match. This made it the first purpose-built football venue in Recife and a landmark for the sport in the city.
The stadium's official name honours Adelmar da Costa Carvalho, the Sport Club do Recife president who led its first major renovation. Fans call it Ilha do Retiro after the neighbourhood, or simply Ilha. Its red-and-black colours appear on the stands, and the upper tier carries the inscription "RT CAMPEAO BRASILEIRO DE". The 1987 national title, confirmed by the Supreme Federal Court, is part of the club's identity.
The stadium is accessed via Avenida Sport Club do Recife, where multiple entrances lead to different seating sections. Arriving early helps you find the right entrance and avoid the crowds that typically gather closer to match time.
The stadium hosted an international match during the 1950 FIFA World Cup in which Chile defeated the United States 5-2. This game remains one of the notable moments from that tournament's early days.
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