The Best Arenas of FIFA 2014

  • Published:
  • 12/06/2014 12:00 AM

Image by : Getty Images

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Image by : Getty Images

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Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
Capacity:
62,254
Will host: Six matches, including one semi-final.
Sustainability principles were at the core of renovation work at this stadium. Consequently, it has the facility to capture and store up to 62.7 lakh litres of rainwater, which can then be reused.

Image by : Ueslei Marcelino / Reuters

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Image by : Ueslei Marcelino / Reuters

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Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia
Capacity:
68,009
Will host: Seven games, including a quarter-final tie.
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. It is the second-largest among all stadiums hosting World Cup matches.

Image by : Getty Images

3/6

Image by : Getty Images

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Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
Capacity:
48,849
Will host: Five games, among them a Round-of-16 tie
Located on the picturesque banks of the River Guaiba, it is the largest football ground in the south of Brazil and nicknamed the ‘Gigante do Beira-Rio’ (The Giant of Beira-Rio). Opened in 1969, it took nearly a decade to build, with fans donating bricks, cement and iron.

Image by : Joel Marcos / Reuters

4/6

Image by : Joel Marcos / Reuters

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Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba
Capacity:
42,968
Will host: Four group-phase matches
The stadium has been constructed using a sustainable approach: The wood came from certified sources, and recycled waste was used for access routes. The site’s air and soil quality is constantly monitored, justifying its nickname of ‘overdão’ (The Big Green).

Image by : Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

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Image by : Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

5/6
Estadio Do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
Capacity:
76,804
Will host: Seven games, including the final on July 13
The façade of  this stadium has been listed by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage, and although large parts of the stadium have been refurbished, the façade remains untouched. The stadium is fitted with a new roof, complete with a rainwater collection system.

Image by : Michael Heiman/Getty Images

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Image by : Michael Heiman/Getty Images

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Estadio das Dunas, Natal
Capacity:
42,086
Will host: Four group-phase matches
The Estadio das Dunas project is inspired by the sand dunes, which are among the most impressive natural attractions in the Natal region.