BRASILIA // Brasilia has been one of the focal points of the World Cup, but there will not be much football for the country’s capital to look forward to when the tournament leaves town following the third-place match on Saturday.

When the Brazilian championship restarts this month, the federal district will be represented by just one team, Brasiliense, playing in the regionalised fourth division.

The glistening new Brasilia national stadium, popularly known as Mane Garrincha after one of Brazil’s greatest players, is likely to go unused by the local side as Brasiliense stage their matches in a more modest arena, popularly known as the Alligator’s Mouth.

“It’s a stadium for 20,000, which is sufficient for what we need,” Brasiliense coach Marcos Soares said. “If we want to play in front of large crowds, we need to get results and get promoted.

“You have to pay [to rent the stadium], you have the employees, cleaning, security staff. The clubs have to pay for this.

“It’s a gigantic stadium for 70,000 people. Brasiliense will not fill a stadium like that.”

Brasiliense played in the first competitive match at the Mane Garrincha last year when they faced rivals Brasilia FC in the final of the local championship.

Brasilia FC, meanwhile, will have to wait until next year before playing another competitive game. They are one of many small clubs condemned to long periods of inactivity by the Byzantine structure of Brazilian domestic football.

The first four months of the year are dedicated to regional competitions, one for each of Brazil’s 27 states, and the rest of the season to the Brazilian championship.

Brasilia coach Marquinho Carioca said that the new stadium, criticised by many as being a white elephant, would act as an inspiration, and he hoped that one day Brasilia could play in the ground regularly.

He said: “I think it was money well spent because it motivates football in Brasilia. Having a stadium like that motivates the athletes, you feel the atmosphere.”