FIFA World Cup 2014 at Brazil:Stadiums at a Glance

Estadio Do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro

Incomparable natural beauty and rich history and the cariocas' contagious joie de vivre have all contributed to making Rio most loved cities across the globe.Rio is a city packed with tourists places, its striking colonial architecture recalling a bygone era while its imposing modern buildings represent a bright future. Perhaps the two most iconic sights are the Sugarloaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which sits atop the Corcovado Mountain.

Estadio Do Maracana built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil, better known as the Maracana, provided the venue for that year’s truly memorable decider between the host nation and Uruguay, one of the most dramatic chapters in the history of the competition.The Rio de Janeiro stadium will be in the limelight once again at Brazil 2014, hosting seven games in all, more than any other venue. Among those matches will be the Final on 13 July.Once the largest stadium in the world, packing in crowds of up to 200,000 among the highest attendances ever seen in the history of the game though the Maracana now has a reduced capacity of 74,698 for Brazil 2014. It remains, nevertheless, the country’s biggest football ground.

Arena Amazonia, Manaus

The city is situated at the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest in the world and the inspiration for the refurbished stadium, which will be enclosed by a metal structure designed to resemble a straw basket.The venue for four group-phase matches at Brazil 2014.Arena Amazonia has a seating capacity of 39,118 spectators, it will feature restaurants and underground parking and will be served by dedicated bus and monorail services.

Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza

Featuring 34 kilometres of wonderful beaches, Fortaleza has been one of the main tourist destinations in the north-east of Brazil for several years.With a capacity of 60,348, the revamped stadium will boast an underground car park with 1,900 spaces, executive boxes, a VIP area, media centre, mixed zone and fully refurbished dressing rooms.

Estadio das Dunas, Natal

Natal, which is one of the preferred destinations for foreigners visiting Brazil.Ponta Negra, Genipabu, Redinha, Pipa, Pirangi and several other spectacular beaches within the city and right next to it.Natal is proudly known as Cidade do Sol (Sun City) faultless tropical climate that provides an annual average of 28º C, and roughly 300 sunny days a year.Estadio das Dunas, name relating to the sand dunes that are one of the most impressive natural attractions in the Natal region.The stadium’s daring undulating structure designed to imitate said dunes with a capacity of 38,958 spectators.

Arena Pernambuco, Recife

Recife is the capital of the state of Pernambuco, in the north-east of Brazil, and the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.Some of the most impressive beaches around the state's capital are Boa Viagem one of the most famous urban beaches of the region, and Porto de Galinhas which stands among the top tourist destinations in the country, located some 70km away from Recife.Other place to visit are the Orange Fort and the very city of Olinda, which was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1982.The Arena Pernambuco, which is part of a complex also featuring restaurants, shopping centres and cinemas, is located in Sao Lourenco da Mata in Recife’s metropolitan zone, just 19km away from Guararapes International Airport, with room for 42,583 spectators.

Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The city has the largest carnival of the World.The first colonial capital of Brazil, the city is one of the oldest in the Americas.The city of Salvador is notable in Brazil for its cuisine, music and architecture, and its metropolitan area is the wealthiest in Brazil's Northeast. The African influence in many cultural aspects of the city makes it the centre of Afro-Brazilian culture.Arena Fonte Nova constructed on the site of the Fonte Nov, officially known as the Estadio Octavio Mangabeira.The stadium will host four group matches, three of them featuring top-seeded teams, as well as a Round-of-16 match and a quarter-final tie, with a capacity of 51,708 spectators.

Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba

Cuiaba city is a rich mix of European, African and native American influences and numerous museums reflect this. Cuiabá is also notable for its cuisine, dance, music and craftwork. Known as the "Southern gate to the Amazon", experiences a hot humid tropical climate.Arena Pantanal specially built for Brazil 2014 it will host four matches. The Arena has a capacity of 39,859.

Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia

The city's design divides it into numbered blocks as well as sectors for specified activities, such as the Hotel Sector, the Banking Sector and the Embassy Sector. Brasília was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its modernist architecture. Here can be found the country's seats of Executive and Legislative Power as well as the headquarters of the Supreme Federal Court.Few Brazilian cities can match the capital Brasilia when it comes to architecture, and the imposing Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha is a reflection of that, an arena with seating for 69,432 spectators, making it the second largest of the stadiums hosting matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. It will host seven games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and one of them a quarter-final tie.

Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte

From the beauty of its green areas to the careful city-planning, the wide array of cultural activities to the nature wonders of the Serra do Curral surrounding it, Belo Horizonte has more than one hundred species of birds inhabit the reserve, as well as ten different species of mammals. Estadio Mineirao, one of the most historic venues in Brazilian football and called home by Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro, both former national champions, the 58,259 capacity Estadio Mineirao has undergone a complete overhaul prior to hosting six matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup including one semi-final.

Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a high-profile cultural centre, from various top-flight concerts and exhibitions to a colossal gastronomy scene of more than 12,000 restaurants. Sampa is also bursting with tourist attractions that go way beyond its staggering skyline, such as the Japanese district of Liberdade, the Ibirapuera Park, the several high-profile shopping malls and a charming city centre.Arena de Sao Paulo has been chosen to host the Opening Match of Brazil 2014 and will also welcome five other encounters, including one semi-final. Its capacity will be 61,606.

Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

Porto Alegre lies on the eastern bank of the Guaíba River, right at the convergence point of five other rivers, which together form the enormous Lagoa dos Patos . Its 497 square kilometres are covered with more than one million trees, making it one of the greenest cities in Brazil.Estadio Beira-Rio the largest football ground in the south of Brazil and nicknamed the “Gigante do Beira-Rio” . The Beira-Rio will have a capacity of 42,991.

Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

Curitiba has cultural richness to the massive immigration process which the south of Brazil underwent during the 19th century, when it welcomed a huge contingent of Germans, Italians, Ukrainians and Polish. With its first-class Italian cantinas, The Bosque Alemão (German Wood) and the Ukrainian church replica at fabulous Tingui Park, the Opera de Arame (a theatre all built with glass and iron wires) and the poignant Oscar Niemeyer Museum.The Arena da Baixada – has been considered one of Brazil’s most modern and best-appointed stadiums with a capacity 38,533, the stadium is set to welcome four matches at Brazil 2014.