2014 Fifa World Cup: Where are the 12 host stadiums in Brazil? - BBC Sport BBC Sport 2014 Fifa World Cup: Where are the 12 host stadiums in Brazil? 6 Jun 2014 Read more about sharing. From the Amazon basin in the north to the banks of the River Guaiba in the south, 12 stadiums across Brazil will play host to matches at next summer's World Cup. Three of the arenas will miss Fifa's end-of-year deadline for completion, while a further three remain a long way from being finished. But which grounds are finished? Where are they? And what can fans expect? (All times are British Summer Time) Arena De Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Capacity: 65,807 (20,000 of which are temporary seats). Opening: A new build for the tournament, the new home of Corinthians is due to be completed in time for the opening game which it will host. It has staged two test matches, but was not at full capacity for either. Altitude: 792m (2,598ft).

Climate: Highs of around 20C and lows of 13C with a 30% chance of rain. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 269 miles. Where is it?: On a plateau in the south-east, on the Atlantic coast. Fixtures: 12 June, Brazil v Croatia, 21:00; 19 June, Uruguay v England, 20:00; 23 June, Netherlands v Chile, 17:00; 26 June, South Korea v Belgium, 21:00; 1 July, Second-round, Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E, 17:00; 9 July, Semi-final, Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4, 21:00. Background: Corinthians, who currently play at the Estadio do Pacaembu, were granted permission to build a new stadium as long ago as 1978 but only announced construction of their new home in 2010.

The Estadio do Morumbi, home of Sao Paulo FC, was originally chosen to represent the city of Sao Paulo in the World Cup but when funding fell through to renovate it, the opening game was moved to the new Arena in 2011. After the tournament 20,000 temporary seats will be removed. Construction has been blighted by the deaths of three workers. Two were killed when a crane collapsed in November 2013, and another died in March 2014 after falling from a stand. Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Opened: 1965 (reopened after renovation in February 2013). Altitude: 800m (2,624ft). Climate: Dry and warm. June and July tend to be the coolest months of the year, but temperatures still peak at 25C most days. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 278 miles. Where is it?: Surrounded by mountains inland from Rio and Sao Paulo.

Fixtures: 14 June, Colombia v Greece, 17:00; 21 June, Argentina v Iran, 17:00; 24 June, Costa Rica v England, 17:00; 17 June, Belgium v Algeria, 17:00; 28 June, Second-round, Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B, 17:00; 8 July, Semi-final, Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2, 21:00. Background: It took three years and 695 million Brazilian reais (£185m) to give the historic Estadio Mineirao a comprehensive facelift. The stadium is a listed national monument, so the facade and roof had to be preserved, but the pitch was lowered by 3.4m to allow the removal of a running track and construction of new seating nearer to the pitch. Although it was the second World Cup venue to be completed, in February 2013, teething problems resulted in the stadium's operators being fined.

However, Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke described the stadium as "beautiful" prior to the Confederations Cup, when it hosted three games . It will also host football at the 2016 Olympics. Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Opened: 1973 (reopened in January 2013). Altitude: Sea level. Climate: Daily temperatures peak at around 30C throughout the year, although the city sometimes benefits from a sea breeze. Occasional rain showers are not uncommon in June. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 1,617 miles. Where is it?: A 'fortress' port on the north-east coast of Brazil, it has 16 miles of beaches.

Fixtures: 14 June, Uruguay v Costa Rica, 20:00; 17 June, Brazil v Mexico, 20:00; 21 June, Germany v Ghana, 20:00 24 June, Greece v Ivory Coast, 21:00; 29 June, Second-round, Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A, 17:00; 4 July, Quarter-final, Winner Second-round 1 v Winner Second-round 2, 21:00. Background: The renovation of the Estadio Castelao was completed on time and within budget, making the stadium the first World Cup venue to be declared ready. Work began in March 2011, and cost 518m reais (approximately £167m). The city of Fortaleza sits on Brazil's north-east coast, and is a popular tourist destination because of its beaches. The new Castelao aims to minimise the impact of the heat on players and spectators. Estadio Do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro Capacity: 76,804.

Opened: 1950 (reopened after renovation in June 2013). Fixtures: 15 June, Argentina v Bosnia-Hercegovina, 23:00; 18 June, Spain v Chile, 20:00; 22 June, Belgium v Russia, 17:00; 25 June, Equador v France, 21:00; 28 June, Second-round, Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D, 21:00; 4 July, Quarter-final, Winner Second-round 5 v Winner Second-round 6, 17:00; 13 July, World Cup final, 20:00. Altitude: Sea level. Climate: June and July are Rio's coolest months, but the daily temperature peak is typically 25C. Those months tend to be dry, but humidity remains fairly high all year. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Where is it?: On the Atlantic coast, close to the Tropic of Capricorn. Background: Renovation of this iconic venue was completed just in time for the Confederations Cup last summer.

Work only began in earnest in September 2010 - three years after Brazil was officially handed the World Cup. The stadium formally reopened on 2 June when Brazil drew 2-2 in a friendly with England, and hosted three Confederations Cup matches. Since then venue has resumed its role as the venue for derby matches between Rio's biggest teams - Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafago and Vasco da Gama. The pitch was re-laid in October 2013. It is one of four football venues for the 2016 Olympics and will also host the opening and closing ceremonies. Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Capacity: 68,009. Opened: 1974 (reopened after renovation in May 2013).

Fixtures: 15 June, Switzerland v Ecuador, 17:00; 19 June, Colombia v Ivory Coast, 17:00; 23 June, Cameroon v Brazil, 21:00; 26 June, Portugal v Ghana, 17:00; 30 June, Second-round, Winner Group E v Runner-up Group F, 17:00; 5 July, Quarter-final, Winner Second-round 7 v Winner Second-round 8, 17:00; 12 July, Third-place match, 21:00. Altitude: 1,172m (3,845ft). Climate: Dry and fairly warm. June and July are the two driest months of the year in Brasilia. Temperatures tend to peak at 25C most days, while humidity drops. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 724 miles. Where is it?: The capital of Brazil sits in the central highlands.

Background: Construction was problematic and the original budget almost tripled - government auditors said in May the cost will be over two billion reais (£535m). That makes it the most expensive of Brazil's World Cup venues, and reportedly the second costliest football venue ever built. It will host seven games - the joint most along with the Maracana - but there are fears that afterwards it could become a "white elephant as the city's clubs all play in the lower leagues and attract very small crowds. Work began in August 2010 but was interrupted in June 2012 when a worker fell to his death on site Arena Pernambuco, Recife Capacity: 42,800 Opened: May 2013. Fixtures: 15 June, Ivory Coast v Japan, 02:00; 20 June, Italy v Costa Rica, 17:00; 23 June; Croatia v Mexico, 21:00; 26 June, United States v Germany, 17:00; 29 June, Second-round, Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C, 21:00.

Altitude: Sea level. Climate: Wet. It rains in Recife on average 224 days a year - which is nearly double Manchester's average. Temperatures tend to peak at 28C in June and July, which are Recife's two wettest months. Humidity is also usually high during these months. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 1,426 miles. Where is it?: On the Atlantic coast on the east of Brazil, close to the equator and among tropical forests. Background: This brand new stadium was built in an economically deprived area on the outskirts of Recife, and will eventually form part of a leisure complex and residential development which it is hoped will act as a catalyst for local regeneration. Construction progress was slower than Fifa would have liked, but the stadium was eventually declared operationally ready on 20 May 2013, with a friendly between Nautico and Sporting Lisbon serving as a test event two days later. Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Capacity: 48,747. Opened: 1951 (renovation completed April 2013).

Fixtures: 13 June, Spain v Netherlands, 20:00; 16 June, Germany v Portugal, 17:00 20 June, Switzerland v France, 20:00; 25 June, Bosnia-Hercegovina v Iran, 17:00; 1 July, Second-round, Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G, 21:00; 5 July, Quarter-final, Winner Second-round 3 v Winner Second-round 4, 21:00. Altitude: Sea level. Climate: June and July are Salvador's coolest months, but temperatures still typically peak at 26C. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 1,008 miles. Where is it?: The largest city on the north-east coast. Background: The Arena Fonte Nova rose from the rubble of its predecessor, with 92% of the debris from demolition used to construct the brand new venue. The stadium, which took 32 months to construct, was the third World Cup venue to be completed and cost 592m reais (£160m).

Its most distinctive element is its unusual horse-shoe design. There is a large opening in the stands behind the southern goal, behind which lies an open paved area. This space is called the Praca Sul (Southern Square) and can easily be converted into an amphitheatre to host concerts and shows. The design also boosts air circulation within the stadium. Estadio Pantanal, Cuiaba Opened: April 2014. Altitude: 165m (541ft). Climate: Hot. The temperatures in Cuiaba are consistently high in June and July, rising to daily highs of just over 30C, while it can reach a sweltering 37C. Thunderstorms are a possibility, with humidity expected to be in the 60-70% range. Time Zone: GMT -4 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 1,201 miles. Where is it?: Right in the centre of South America, close to the Bolivian border.

Fixtures: 13 June, Chile v Australia, 23:00; 17 June, Russia v South Korea, 23:00; 21 June, Nigeria v Bosnia-Hercegovina, 23:00; 24 June, Japan v Colombia, 21:00. Background: The stadium was purpose built for the World Cup, and is likely to have its capacity reduced by 10,000 after the tournament. It is one of the smallest World Cup venues, and there are question marks over its long-term value after the tournament. The city's two teams, Cuiaba and Mixto, play in the third and fourth tiers of Brazilian football respectively, usually in front of sparse crowds Construction hit a number of snags, including a fire in October 2013, meaning the stadium did not host its first test event until April. In May a worker died after being electrocuted during the installation of a communications network. Estadio Da Baixada, Curitiba Opened: April 2014. Altitude: 920m (3,018 ft).

Climate: The playing conditions in Curitiba are relatively cool and comfortable with the temperature usually peaking around 20C and a good chance of some rain. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 523 miles. Where is it?: South of Sao Paulo, one of the cooler cities in Brazil which saw snow fall this year. Fixtures: 16 June, Iran v Nigeria, 20:00; 20 June, Honduras v Ecuador, 23:00; 23 June, Australia v Spain, 17:00; 26 June, Algeria v Russia, 21:00. Background: The stadium was the penultimate to be opened, and construction delays proved a major headache for Fifa. Frustrated by the lack of progress, football's governing body threatened to move Curitiba's games elsewhere, only confirming its inclusion in February this year. The stadium was originally built in 1914 so could be said to be the "oldest" venue at the World Cup.

Yet it in 1999 it was rebuilt from scratch, meaning that before World Cup renovations began it was already regarded as one of the most modern stadiums in Brazil. Estadio Amazonia, Manaus Media playback is not supported on this device See how much remains to be done at Arena Amazonia Altitude: 72m (236ft) Climate: Difficult. Tropical heat with tropical storms. Highs are a toasty 30C with a 40% chance of thunderstorms in June, with humidity up to 80%. Expect to see plenty of drinks breaks. Time Zone: GMT -4 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 2,659 miles. Where is it?: The capital of the state of Amazonas, Manaus is the furthest north of the host cities. Fixtures: 14 June, England v Italy, 23:00; 18 June, Cameroon v Croatia, 23:00; 22 June, United States v Portugal, 23:00; 25 June, Honduras v Switzerland, 21:00.

Background: The arena has an elaborate steel structure, imported from Portugal, which envelops the playing area like an indigenous woven basket. Over 95% of the material from the old, demolished, stadium will be reused. This was arguably the most complicated construction project undertaken for the World Cup, in part due to the climate but also because of the location. An urban island in the heart of the rainforest, Manaus is very hard to reach by vehicle, so most materials arrived by plane or ship. Construction was overshadowed by the deaths of three workers in accidents. Two were killed in separate falls in March and November 2013, while another died in February 2014 following an accident involving the dismantling of a crane. A fourth worker died of a heart attack on site last year. Estadio Das Dunas, Natal Opening: January 2014. Altitude: 45m (148ft). Climate: Humidity could be a problem for players in Natal, with an average of 97% humidity in the middle of June. That drops down as the tournament progresses however. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 1,612 miles.

Where is it?: Between Fortaleza and Recife on the north-east coastline, Natal is the state capital nearest to both Africa and Europe. Fixtures: 13 June, Mexico v Cameroon, 17:00; 16 June, Ghana v United States, 23:00; 19 June, Japan v Greece, 23:00; 24 June, Italy v Uruguay, 17:00; Background: The original Machadao stadium was demolished in 2011 to make way for the new build, with work beginning on the Estadio Das Dunas a year later. Designed to replicate sand dunes, the stadium's first match was a derby between ABC and America in January 2014. Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Opened: 1969, but reopened in February 2014. Altitude: 47m (154ft). Climate: It can get down to a chilly 10C at Porte Alegre in June and July with highs only around 19C. Time Zone: GMT -3 hours. Approximate distance from Rio: 982 miles.

Where is it?: The furthest south of the host cities, Porto Alegre sits on a huge freshwater lagoon called Lagoa dos Patos (Lagoon of the Ducks), which is 174 miles long. Fixtures: 15 June, France v Honduras, 20:00; 18 June, Australia v Netherlands, 17:00; 22 June, South Korea v Algeria, 20:00; 25 June, Nigeria v Argentina, 17:00; 30 June, Second-round, Winner Group G v Runner-up Group H, 21:00. Background: Originally built in 1969, and known as the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda, the stadium has been extensively revamped for the World Cup, with stands moved closer to the pitch and covered by a roof to shield fans from the elements. Although the stadium opened in February, temporary facilities - such as media facilities and hospitality areas - had not been finished. They will only be completed at the last minute following wrangling over whether the cost should be covered by the public purse or the stadium's owners, top-flight side Internacional.

Share this page BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Brazil will stage 2014 World Cup Brazil will stage 2014 World Cup Romario, Dunga and Brazilian President Lula with the World Cup Brazil has been named as the host nation for the 2014 football World Cup. The South American country was the only one bidding to host the tournament, which was due to be staged on the continent under Fifa's rotation system. Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said: "Soccer is more than a sport for us, it's a national passion." Brazil have won the tournament a record five times and hosted the World Cup once before, in 1950, when they lost 2-1 in the final to Uruguay. 606: DEBATE Will Brazil be good hosts? It is the first time the World Cup is being held in South America since Argentina hosted, and won, the 1978 tournament. Brazil is setting aside around ï¿½550m to update its stadiums, including the Maracanï¿½ in Rio de Janeiro which hosted the 1950 World Cup final.

And that money will need to be spent wisely as Fifa's inspection report has identified 18 grounds with more than 40,000 capacity that could host games. These will be whittled down to nine or 10. However, of the 18, four would have to be re-built from scratch and all of the others need to undergo substantial renovation. This World Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil Fifa president Sepp Blatter So basic are the facilities at the moment that most of the stadia are not even equipped for television commentary. Fifa president Blatter said, however, that he had been impressed by Brazil's plans for 2014 despite the fact they were the only bidders. "The task was not easy - for us it was a real big challenge to have the same list of requirements and the same conditions for only one candidate," he said. "There was an extraordinary presentation by the delegation and we witnessed that this World Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil.

Brazilians celebrate at the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio "This is the country that has given to the world the best football and the best footballers, and they are five times world champions." Fifa's inspection report added: "Brazil has a rich history of hosting sporting and other international events. "But the standards and demands of the World Cup will far surpass those of any other event staged in the history of Brazil in terms of magnitude and complexity. "The inspection team wants Fifa experts to review the process and progress of host city selection to ensure that adequate financing is committed and secured." As news filtered through, celebrations broke out in various towns around the country with fireworks and festivities set to continue into the night. Around 100 people unfurled a green and yellow banner, emblazoned with the words 'The 2014 World Cup is ours', at the foot of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue which overlooks Rio. Meanwhile, women's world champions Germany will host the 2011 Women's World Cup after beating off competition from Canada.

Bookmark with: Brazil confirmed as 2014 hosts - FIFA.com Brazil confirmed as 2014 hosts (FIFA.com) Listen Brazil has today been named Host Nation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ by the FIFA Executive Committee. The South American country was the only one bidding to host the tournament, which was due to be staged on the continent under FIFA's rotation system. Brazil, who have won the tournament a record five times, hosted the tournament once before in 1950, when they were beaten 2-1 in the Final by Uruguay. Now they have the chance again, with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter saying that he had been impressed by Brazil's plans for 2014 despite the fact they were the only bidders following Colombia's withdrawal. "The task was not easy - for us it was a real big challenge to have the same list of requirements and the same conditions for only one candidate than if we had two and perhaps we put the bar higher than if we had two," said Blatter. "There was an extraordinary presentation by the delegation and we witnessed that this World Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil.

"This is the country that has given to the world the best football and the best footballers, and they are five times world champions." Reaction in Brazil was predictably ecstatic, with the country's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, summing up the feelings of a nation when he spoke of looking forward to the 'huge task' of preparing for this unique sporting event. "I would just like to say how happy I am to see Brazil's name on that card," he said. "Organising the World Cup is a huge task and we have far more responsibility weighing on our shoulders than when we arrived here. But we will organise a great World Cup and I am very happy." Sign in with Facebook FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014 The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international men's football tournament that is scheduled to take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014. It will be the second time that Brazil has hosted the competition, the previous being in 1950.

Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 after the international football federation, FIFA, decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since 1978 in Argentina , and the fifth time overall. The national teams of 31 countries advanced through qualification competitions that began in June 2011 to participate with the host nation Brazil in the final tournament. A total of 64 matches are to be played in twelve cities across Brazil in either new or redeveloped stadiums, with the tournament beginning with a group stage. For the first time at a World Cup Finals, the matches will use goal-line technology. With the host country, all world champion teams since the first World Cup in 1930 ( Uruguay , Italy , Germany , England , Argentina, France and Spain ) have qualified for this competition. Spain is the defending champion, having defeated the Netherlands 1ï¿½0 in the 2010 World Cup final to win its first World title. The previous four World Cups staged in South America were all won by South American teams.

APRIL 2014 The FIFA World Cupï¿½ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola has come to the end of its worldwide journey, just 52 days before the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil. After already visiting 89 countries across 221 days, the tour arrived in the USA at the beginning of last week to give American fans the opportunity to see footballï¿½s ultimate prize. Starting on the countryï¿½s east coast, in Washington DC, a very special activity was held at the United States' State Department with youth from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Special Olympics alongside VIP guests USA Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Olympic and FIFA Women's World Cup winner Julie Foudy and former American international Cobi Jones, who still holds the record number of appearances for the Stars and Stripes, featuring in 164 games from 1992 to 2004.

Following the excitement in Washington DC, a number of media and customer events were held in Miami as well as at Coca-Colaï¿½s headquarters in Atlanta before arriving in Los Angeles for one final celebration before the Trophy departed for 2014 FIFA World Cup Host Country, Brazil. Tens of thousands of lucky consumers who attended the event at L.A. Live on Hollywood Boulevard were able to have their photo taken with the Trophy, experience the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola Hologram movies and participate in football clinics alongside Fuleco. The Trophy is now making its final journey to Brazil, where 27 cities will be visited across six weeks in order to share the excitement of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with local communities. Starting the adventure in Rio de Janeiro tomorrow (Tuesday 22 April) and finishing in the Host City of the 2014 Opening Game - Sao Paulo - the final leg of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will ensure an amazing ending to a memorable journey. VENUES FIFA proposes that no more than one city may use two stadiums, and the number of host cities is limited between eight and ten.

The proposal of Ricardo Teixeira, the then-Head of the Brazilian Football Confederation, to use twelve host cities in "the interest of the whole country" was however accepted by FIFA in December 2008. The twelve host cities were announced on 31 May 2009, with Belï¿½m, Campo Grande, Florianï¿½polis, Goiï¿½nia and Rio Branco being rejected; Maceiï¿½ had already withdrawn in January 2009. The twelve selections ï¿½ each the capital of its state ï¿½ cover all the main regions of Brazil and create more evenly distributed hosting than the 1950 finals in Brazil provided, when matches were concentrated in the south-east and south. As a result the tournament will require significant long-distance travel for teams. A reported US$3.47 billion has been spent on stadium projects. Five of the chosen host cities have brand new venues built specifically for the World Cup, while the Estï¿½dio Nacional Manï¿½ Garrincha in the capital Brasilia was demolished and rebuilt, and the remaining six are being extensively renovated.

The Estï¿½dio do Maracanï¿½ in Rio de Janeiro, which already holds the record attendance for a FIFA World Cup Finals match (199,854), is the largest of the stadiums and will stage the final. The CBF originally intended to host the opening match at Sï¿½o Paulo's Estï¿½dio do Morumbi but it was dropped in 2010 and replaced by the Arena Corinthians after failing to provide financial guarantees for the required improvements. The first new stadium, the Castelï¿½o, in Fortaleza, became operational in January 2013. According to Joe Leahy of the Financial Times , the works in the Castelï¿½o, "could set a precedent for other sporting public works", since the project "came in within budget and cheaper per seat" than the Maracanï¿½ stadium in Rio. Six of the venues were used during the 2013 Confederations Cup. Six further stadiums are however forecast to miss FIFA's original 31 December 2013 deadline for completed works.

The completion of the new Arena Corinthians has been hindered by a fatal crane collapse in November 2013 that destroyed part of the stadium and killed two construction workers. On 22 January 2014, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke visited the Arena da Baixada site in Curitiba and stated that the city may be dropped as a World Cup host city if sufficient progress in the renovation of the arena was not shown by 18 February. On 18 February, FIFA confirmed that Curitiba would remain as a World Cup host, despite delays in construction of the stadium. On 9 March 2014, the Arena da Amazï¿½nia, in Manaus, became the ninth World Cup stadium to host a football match, with Remo and Nacional coming to a 2-2 draw. Arena das Dunas, in Natal, and Estï¿½dio Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre also hosted soccer matches already, and are ready for the World Cup.

Fifa World Cup - 2014 The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international men's football tournament that is scheduled to take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014.It will be the second time that Brazil has hosted the competition, the previous being in FIFA World Cup. Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 after the international football federation, FIFA, decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since FIFA World Cup">1978 in Argentina, and the fifth time overall. A total of 64 matches are to be played in twelve cities across Brazil in either new or redeveloped stadiums, with the tournament beginning with a group stage. For the first time at a World Cup Finals, the matches will use goal-line technology . With the host country, all world champion teams since the first World Cup in 1930 (Uruguay, Italy, Germany, England, Argentina, France and Spain) have qualified for this competition. The previous four World Cups staged in South America were all won by South American teams.

Eighteen locations were presented as potential World Cup host cities: Belém, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Campo Grande, Cuiabá, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Goiânia, Maceió, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio Branco, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo. FIFA proposes that no more than one city may use two stadiums, and the number of host cities is limited between eight and ten. The proposal of Ricardo Teixeira, the then-Head of the Brazilian Football Confederation, to use twelve host cities in "the interest of the whole country" was however accepted by FIFA in December 2008. A reported US$3.47 billion has been spent on stadium projects.

Five of the chosen host cities have brand new venues built specifically for the World Cup, while the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in the capital Brasilia was demolished and rebuilt, and the remaining six are being extensively renovated The Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, which already holds the record attendance for a FIFA World Cup Finals match (199,854), is the largest of the stadiums and will stage the final. Host Country Brazil Has Largest Allotment of World Cup Tickets and Highest Average Price Host Country Brazil Has Largest Allotment of World Cup Tickets and Highest Average Price {{article.article.images.featured.caption}} Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Full Bio The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. Loading ... Loading ... This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe When FIFA announced in 2003 that the 2014 World Cup would be held in South America for the fifth time in the tournament’s rich history that dates back to 1930, soccer-crazed Brazil immediately emerged as the frontrunner for host country.

Every other country to originally submit a bid eventually withdrew them, and in 2007, an unopposed Brazil was selected to host. As host country, Brazil has been given the largest allotment of World Cup tickets assigned to each of the participating countries. 906,433 tickets have been allocated to Brazil thus far, 623% more than the 125,465 tickets currently allocated to the United States, which is the second largest allotment to any country. These are the only two countries to receive over 100,000 tickets thus far, with Columbia checking in at distant #3 with an allotment of 60,231 tickets. Germany (55,666) and Argentina (53,809) were given the next largest allotments, and it interesting to note that Columbia and Argentina were the two South American countries to initially bid against Brazil for hosting privileges.

Rounding out the top 10 largest ticket allotments are England (51,222), Australia (40,446), France (34,971), Chile (32,189) and Mexico (30,238). Across all general public sales phases on FIFA.com, including the sale of participating teams’ quotas, 57 percent of the over 1.5 million tickets allocated to supporters have gone to Brazilians, while the remaining 43% have been distributed to international fans. In total, through all sales channels including the hospitality programme and other constituent groups, 2.3 million tickets have been assigned for the 64 total World Cup matches running from the June 12 start of Group Play to the July 13 World Cup Final. Undoubtedly, the Brazilians care about their soccer and deserve the significant quantity of tickets they’ve been allotted. On the secondary market, Brazil Group Stage matches, which of course are the only matches to be affirmatively scheduled involving Brazil, are selling for far more than those of other teams. Currently, the three Brazil Group Stage matches are indeed the three most expensive of all 48 Group Stage matches.

Brazil will open the World Cup against Croatia on June 12, and tickets for this match are currently selling for an average price of $2,252.22 on the secondary market with a get-in price of $1,704. Next, Brazil takes on Mexico on June 17, which at an average price of $2,854.50 is currently the most expensive match of World Cup other than the second Semifinal and Finals. Brazil then wraps up Group Stage play with their final match on June 23 against Cameroon, and despite the disparity in talent, it is still the third most expensive Group Stage match at an average price of $1,192.13. Currently, the June 13 match between Mexico and Cameroon (two members of Brazil’s group) is the only other match with an average ticket price above $1,000. Overall, World Cup Group Stage tickets are currently listed for an average secondary market price of $704.48. The average Brazil ticket carries a 198% premium over the overall Group Stage average.

While the United States received the second largest allotment of World Cup tickets, all three of their Group Stage contests currently carry average ticket prices below the overall Group Stage average. Team USA opens against Ghana on June 16, and tickets for that match have an average price of $594.33. USA then takes on Portugal, with tickets averaging $525.64 and available for as little as $356. Undoubtedly, USA was placed in one of the most difficult groups, as they will wrap up against the always formidable Germans on June 26. Tickets for this match are the most expensive of USA’s Group Stage contests, currently selling for an average price of $703.33 with a get-in price of $496. Still, despite the high quality matchup, the demand for USA World Cup tickets is average at best, as even their most expensive match is right in line with the overall Group Stage average. While the World Cup is one of the most expensive summer events, the USMNT games are understandably lower in price than some of the other major domestic events occurring around the same time frame.

Tickets for the 2014 Masters golf tournament have an average price of $1268.73 across the four individual sessions. In addition, Kentucky Derby tickets for the May 3rd biggest horse racing event of the year, have an average price of $843.56, according to Derby Box. Clearly, expectations for Team USA are a bit lower than those for Brazil and it shows in ticket prices for their matches. Every single one of the four previous World Cups staged in South America have been won by South American teams, and Brazil will certainly be looking to continue that trend this time around. Secondary market ticket prices for the Semifinal and Final that Brazil would be playing in if all went well are pricing with the expectation that Brazil has a pretty good chance of participating. Currently, Brazil’s potential Semifinal match carries an average ticket price of $3,017.16, reflecting a 19.2% premium over the other Semifinal contest. As expected however, the World Cup Final is currently the single most expensive ticket of the entire event with an average price of $4,153.53.

Unfortunately, those looking for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of getting into the World Cup Finals on the cheap are likely out of luck. Even the Finals get-in price of $3,537 is more expensive than the average ticket for any other match of the 2014 World Cup.

Question: Which South American country will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup?
Answer: Brazil