The Itaquera Arena has been confirmed as the stadium in São Paulo that will host Olympic football matches during the Rio 2016 Games. It is the seventh and last venue to join the tournament, after the Maracanã and Olympic Stadium (Rio de Janeiro), Fonte Nova Arena (Salvador), Amazônia Arena (Manaus), Mané Garrincha Stadium (Brasília) and Mineirão (Belo Horizonte).

Following the announcement on Thursday (30 April), tickets for matches in São Paulo will go on sale to Brazilian residents from 9pm Brazilian time. Overseas fans should enter into contact with the authorised ticket reseller (ATR) in their territory to find out how to buy tickets. Click here to see the list of ATRs.

The Itaquera Arena, the home of Corinthians Football Club, is located in the neighbourhood of Itaquera in São Paulo’s East Zone. It was opened shortly before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, when it staged six games, including the opening match. During the Olympic Games, the venue will host 10 matches: four group games, one quarter-final and the bronze medal match in the women’s tournament; plus two group games, one quarter-final and one semi-final in the men’s tournament.

“The stadium complies with all FIFA requirements and was successfully tested in the World Cup,” said Rodrigo Garcia, Rio 2016’s sports director. “In addition, although the Games-time operation will be heavier than the stadium’s routine operations, it will be significantly lighter than during the World Cup, so we are certain that the arena is prepared for Rio 2016.”

Garcia added that the selection process for Itaquera Arena was the same as for the other stadiums. “We have already made inspections of the Itaquera Arena, as planned, and they will continue until the Games,” he said. “From the perspective of the competition, there hasn’t been any alteration to the schedule.”

Official confirmation of the Itaquera Arena’s presence in the Olympic Games came after an agreement between the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and São Paulo Municipal Government on Thursday (30 April). The two entities will work together with Games sponsors to find ways to fund the temporary structures needed to host the tournament in the city.

São Paulo has provided the second highest number of applications for Rio 2016 Olympic Games tickets, behind Rio de Janeiro.