Vasco da Gama faces stadium uncertainty for Boca Juniors semifinal

Vasco da Gama is facing a logistical crisis regarding the venue for the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana semifinal against Boca Juniors, scheduled for October 20. The club’s home stadium, São Januário, does not meet the Conmebol requirement of a 30,000-seat minimum capacity.

A legal attempt by Vasco to secure the use of the Maracanã was denied by a Rio de Janeiro judge. The court cited technical disagreements between Vasco and the stadium's administrators, Fla-Flu Serviços, regarding the preservation of the pitch following a heavy schedule of matches. While the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro has recommended that Flamengo and Fluminense release the stadium for public safety reasons, this remains a non-binding recommendation.

Vasco is exploring several alternatives. The club has consulted the administration of the Arena da Amazônia in Manaus as a potential host for both the Boca Juniors match and a subsequent game against Flamengo. Other options include the Nilton Santos stadium. The club faces strict Conmebol deadlines to confirm the venue, with different timelines depending on whether the match is held within or outside the state of Rio de Janeiro.