VIWANJA 12 VITAKAVYOTUMIKA FAINALI KOMBE LA DUNIA 2014 KUANZIA LEO JUNE 12 MPAKA 13 JULY

CITY: Rio de Janeiro
STADIUM: Maracana (capacity 73,531)
HOME TO: Fluminense FC and CR Flamengo
The most iconic city in Brazil also includes arguably the most iconic stadium in world football. The Maracana was totally rebuilt especially for the World Cup. It officially reopened in June, when Brazil hosted England in a friendly. The stadium will host the final on July 13. With its carnival atmosphere, famous beaches and tourist attractions like Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio will be the most popular place to visit for fans. England have already confirmed that they will be based there for the tournament in the five-star Royal Tulip hotel.

MATCHES:
June 15, 2014 23:00 Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina - Group F
June 18, 2014 23:00 Spain v Chile - Group B
June 22, 2014 23:00 Belgium v Russia - Group H
June 25, 2014 21:00 Ecuador v France - Group E
June 28, 2014 21:00 Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D
July 4, 2014 21:00 Quarter-finals
July 13, 2014 20:00 Final

Focal point: The Maracana stadium has been redeveloped as the centrepiece of the World Cup in Brazil

 England opened the Maracana with a friendly against Brazil and the stadium will also host the final

The Maracana hosted the World Cup final in 1930 when 200,000 watched Uruguay beat Brazil
CITY: Sao Paulo
STADIUM: Arena Corinthians (capacity 65,000)
HOME TO: Corinthians

Serious doubts have emerged about the stadium which is due to host the opening match of the tournament after a crane collapsed on the site last week, killing two workers. Sao Paulo is the spiritual birthplace of football in Brazil, but its unpredictable weather may turn off visitors. The south-eastern city is known as the Terra da Garoa (Land of the Drizzle) because of the almost incessant rain that falls there. A bit like Brazil’s version of Manchester.

MATCHES:
June 12, 2014 21:00 Brazil v Croatia - Group A
June 19, 2014 20:00 Uruguay v England - Group D
June 23, 2014 17:00 Netherlands v Chile - Group B
June 26, 2014 21:00 Korea Republic v Belgium - Group H
July 1, 2014 17:00 Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E
July 9, 2014 21:00 Semi-Final

 The Arena Corinthians stadium in Sao Paulo is due to host the opening match of the World Cup

Two workers at the stadium were killed in November when it suffered a partial collapse


An artist's impression of Arena Corinthians which is due to host the opening game of the tournament

CITY: Brasilia
STADIUM: Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha (capacity: 68,009)
HOME TO: Brasília Futebol Clube

Named after former Botafogo and Brazil star Garrincha, who become one of the country’s biggest sporting icons in the 1950s and 1960s, the new-build stadium hosted the opening match of the Confederations Cup. Brasilia is home to some of Brazil’s most impressive architecture. It replaced Rio as the country’s capital in 1960.

MATCHES:
June 15, 2014 17:00 Switzerland v Ecuador - Group E
June 19, 2014 17:00 Colombia v Ivory Coast - Group C
June 23, 2014 21:00 Cameroon v Brazil - Group A
June 26, 2014 17:00 Portugal v Ghana - Group G
June 30, 2014 17:00 Winner Group E v Runner-up Group F
July 5, 2014 17:00 Quarter-finals
July 12, 2014 21:00 Third place match

 Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha is named after the Brazilian legend

CITY: Fortaleza
STADIUM: Estadio Castelao (capacity: 58,704)
HOME TO: Ceara SC and Ferroviario AC

The stadium, which will host Brazil’s second group game, has been given a revamp over the last couple of years in preparation for the World Cup. Fortaleza, which is located in the north-east of the country, is the capital of the Ceara province. Fortaleza is famous for tourism, beautiful beaches, delicious seafood and a unique carnival, which will coincide with the tournament. The tropical temperatures soar beyond 30 degrees centigrade and the atmosphere will be muggy.

MATCHES:
June 14, 2014 20:00 Uruguay v Costa Rica - Group D
June 17, 2014 20:00 Brazil v Mexico - Group A
June 23, 2014 20:00 Germany v Ghana - Group G
June 24, 2014 21:00 Greece v Ivory Coast - Group C
June 29, 2014 17:00 Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A
July 4, 2014 21:00 Quarter-final

 The Estadio Castelao was used for the Confederations Cup last summer

CITY: Belo Horizonte
STADIUM: Estadio Mineirao (capacity: 57,483)
HOME TO: Cruzeiro Esporte Clube

Venue for one of the semi-finals, Belo Horizonte’s biggest stadium has undergone a complete overhaul since Brazil won the right to host the World Cup. Ronaldo used to grace the surface of the Mineirao when he started his career with Cruzeiro. Located just an hour’s flight from Rio, Belo Horizonte is a more affordable option for travelling fans. Temperatures will be in the mid-20s, and there will be little humidity.

MATCHES:
June 14, 2014 17:00 Colombia v Greece - Group C
June 17, 2014 17:00 Belgium v Algeria - Group H
June 21, 2014 17:00 Argentina v Iran - Group F
June 24, 2014 17:00 Costa Rica v England - Group D
June 28, 2014 17:00 Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B
July 8, 2014 21:00 Semi-final

 Ronaldo used to play at the Mineirao Stadium during his spell with Cruzeiro

CITY: Porto Alegre
STADIUM: Estadio Beira-Rio (capacity: 48,849)
HOME TO: Sport Club Internacional
Located on the banks of the River Guaiba, the Estadio Beira-Rio is the home of two Brazilian clubs - Internacional and neighbours Gremio. Porto Alegre has a subtropical climate so take an umbrella if you go there next summer. One of Porto Alegre’s biggest attractions is the famous Lago de Patos (Ducks Lagoon), which is surrounded by one million trees.

MATCHES:
June 15, 2014 20:00 France v Honduras - Group E
June 18, 2014 17:00 Australia v Netherlands - Group B
June 22, 2014 17:00 Korea Republic v Algeria - Group H
June 25, 2014 17:00 Nigeria v Argentina - Group F
June 30, 2014 21:00 Winner Group G v Runner-up Group H

Estadio Beira Rio will host three group games and a last 16 tie but will not be opened until April

CITY: Recife
STADIUM: Arena Pernambuco (capacity: 44,248)
HOME TO: Nautico

Recife, located on the north-eastern coast of Brazil, hosted a match the last time the World Cup took place in the country in 1950. Its newly-built stadium is the home of home to three historic Brazilian clubs - Nautico, Santa Cruz and Sport. The locals are football mad. Recife is the capital of the state of Pernambuco, and is often called ‘the capital of the north-east’ due to its importance to Brazil’s economy.

MATCHES:
June 14, 2014 23:00 Ivory Coast v Japan - Group C
June 20, 2014 17:00 Italy v Costa Rica - Group D
June 23, 2014 21:00 Croatia v Mexico - Group A
June 26, 2014 17:00 USA v Germany - Group G
June 29, 2014 21:00 Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C

Arena Pernambuco is home to Nautico and was newly built for the World Cup

CITY: Salvador
STADIUM: Arena Fonte Nova (capacity: 52,048)
HOME TO : EC Bahia and EC Vitoria

Salvador will host the draw on Friday and six games during the tournament. Organisers lauded the fact that the newly-built complex contains a panoramic restaurant, museum of football, shops, hotels and a concert hall. They were left a little red-faced, however, when part of the roof collapsed in May due to heavy rainfall. No injuries were reported. Salvador, in the north-east of the country, was Brazil’s first capital. It will be humid there in June and July.

MATCHES:
June 13, 2014 21:00 Spain v Netherlands - Group B
June 16, 2014 18:00 Germany v Portugal - Group G
June 20, 2014 21:00 Switzerland v France - Group E
June 25, 2014 18:00 Bosnia-Herzegovina v Iran - Group F
July 1, 2014 18:00 Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G
July 5, 2014 22:00 Quarter-final

Everything under one roof: Arena Fonte Nova will be next to a museum, shops and a restaurant

CITY: Cuiaba
STADIUM: Arena Pantanal (capacity: 42,968)
HOME TO: Cuiaba EC and Mixto EC

Especially built for the World Cup, the Arena Pantanal will host four matches during the tournament. Located in western Brazil, Cuiaba is just south of the Amazon rainforest, but it still retains a humid atmosphere so will feel muggy throughout the World Cup. Nicknamed the ‘Green City’ due to the vast national park that surrounds it, Cuiaba is popular with tourists, but they rarely visit in the Brazilian summer as temperatures can hit above 40 degrees centigrade.

MATCHES:
June 13, 2014 23:00 Chile v Australia - Group B
June 17, 2014 23:00 Russia v Korea Republic - Group H
June 21, 2014 23:00 Nigeria v Bosnia-Herzegovina - Group F
June 24, 2014 21:00 Japan v Colombia - Group C

Arena Pantanal is behind schedule but an artist's impression shows it's final state (below)

CITY: Manaus
STADIUM: Arena Amazonia (capacity: 42,374)

As the name of the stadium suggests, Manaus is located bang in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Manaus is hardly a hotbed of football, but organisers felt it was important to take the World Cup to all four corners of the country despite fears the stadium will become a white elephant once the tournament ends. Humidity can reach 99 per cent during June and July.

HOME TO: Nacional FC, Fast Club and Rio Negro

MATCHES:
June 14, 2014 02:00 England v Italy - Group D
June 18, 2014 20:00 Cameroon v Croatia - Group A
June 22, 2014 20:00 USA v Portugal - Group G
June 25, 2014 21:00 Honduras v Switzerland - Group E

Arena Amazonia is not yet complete with the World Cup seven months away

CITY: Natal
STADIUM: Estadio das Dunas (capacity: 42,086)

Completely rebuilt just for the World Cup, the Estadio das Dunas’ most remarkable feature is its roof, which is designed in the shape of petals. Four group matches will be played there next summer. Natal is proudly known as Cidade do Sol (Sun City) thanks to an annual average of 28 degrees centigrade. The beaches in the north-eastern city are some of the best in the country.

HOME TO: America FC

MATCHES:
June 13, 2014 17:00 Mexico v Cameroon - Group A
June 16, 2014 23:00 Ghana v USA - Group G
June 19, 2014 23:00 Japan v Greece - Group C
June 24, 2014 17:00 Italy v Uruguay - Group D

 Estadio das Dunas was completely rebuilt with a unique petal roof for the World Cup

CITY: Curitiba
STADIUM: Arena da Baixada (capacity: 41,456)

The Arena da Baixada was originally constructed in 1914, but underwent refurbishment in 1999 and once more when Brazil were chosen as World Cup hosts. The second-most southerly city of the 12 venues behind Porto Alegre, Curitiba has 1.8 million inhabitants. It is one of the biggest economic hubs in Brazil. It has a similar climate to Rio and Belo Horizonte, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-20s, and there will be next to no humidity either.

HOME TO: Atletico Paranaense

MATCHES:
June 16, 2014 20:00 Iran v Nigeria - Group F
June 20, 2014 23:00 Honduras v Ecuador - Group E
June 23, 2014 17:00 Australia v Spain - Group B
June 26, 2014 21:00 Algeria v Russia - Group H

 Work on the Arena da Baixada was suspended in October but is due to host four games