Ever since it was inaugurated back in 1972, the Estadio Joao Claudio de Vasconcelos Machado – better known as the Machadão – has welcomed the biggest clashes in Natal football to the Lagoa Nova neighbourhood. The three leading teams in Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte state, are ABC, Alecrim and America, who last appeared in Brazil’s top flight – Serie A – in 1985, 1986 and 2007 respectively. However, in order for Natal to become one of the 12 Host Cities at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, a bigger and more modern venue was required. The solution settled upon was to completely demolish both the Machadão and the neighbouring Humberto Nesi sports hall, known as the Machadinho. Rising up on the site is the Estadio das Dunas stadium project, with its name relating to the sand dunes that are one of the most impressive natural attractions in the Natal region. Nor do the similarities end there, with the stadium’s daring undulating structure designed to imitate said dunes.
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Recife, a city whose passion for the beautiful game is without question, is home to three historic Brazilian clubs in the shape of Nautico, Santa Cruz and Sport. And, having already hosted one match at the 1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ (Chile’s 5-2 win over USA at the Ilha do Retiro stadium), the city is set to gain a brand-new arena in time to host five matches at Brazil 2014. The Arena Pernambuco, which will be part of a complex also featuring restaurants, shopping centres and cinemas, will be located in Sao Lourenco da Mata in Recife’s metropolitan zone, just 19km away from Guararapes International Airport. The project is seen as an economic catalyst for the continued expansion of Grande Recife, within an area which is considered to be economically deprived. It is also estimated that the area will expand into a neighbourhood including nearly 5,000 homes. With room for 43,921 spectators and constructed by means of a partnership between the public and private sector, the Arena Pernambuco will be ready to host Nautico’s games as of June 2013 – following the agreement reached with the club in October 2011.
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Located in a picture-postcard setting, on reclaimed land on the banks of the River Guaiba, the Estadio Beira-Rio is the home of Internacional, arch-rivals to their Porto Alegre neighbours Gremio. The venue of many a thrilling city derby and no fewer than four Copa Libertadores finals, the stadium is now preparing to host five games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, among them a Round-of-16 tie. The largest football ground in the south of Brazil and nicknamed the “Gigante do Beira-Rio” (The Giant of Beira-Rio), the stadium is officially known as the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda and was opened in 1969. It had taken nearly a decade to build, with Inter fans lending a helping hand in its construction by donating bricks, cement and iron. So anxious were some supporters to see the ground built that they would even leave games at the club’s existing ground, Estadio dos Eucaliptos, whenever the team was losing and head to the Beira-Rio to cheer the builders on. The cost of revamping the stadium is being met by the club itself through the programme “Gigante para Sempre” (A Giant for all time). The main feature of the project is the installation of an innovative metal roof to cover the stands, ramps and turnstile areas. The construction project has been divided into different phases, the idea being to enable its continued use during its refurbishment, at the end of which the Beira-Rio will have a capacity of 50,287.
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Of the three biggest clubs in Sao Paulo, the only one which previously did not own a stadium with the necessary size and infrastructure to host games was the city’s best-supported side: Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. Yet this long-yearned for dream of the Corinthians faithful will finally come true ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in the shape of the Arena de Sao Paulo. Under construction in the neighbourhood of Itaquera, which is in the city’s Eastern Zone and a traditional Corintianos stronghold, the project is scheduled to be completed by early 2014. The stadium works are also expected to boost development in the Eastern Zone, which is one of Sao Paulo’s most deprived areas and home to nearly four million people, as well as ensuring hundreds of workers gain professional qualifications. A total of close to 6,000 people will be employed either directly or indirectly over the course of the construction process. The 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.
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The first capital city in Brazil’s history, Salvador will welcome the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ at a new, purpose-built stadium with a capacity of 56,000. The new arena will host six games at the tournament and is being constructed on the site of the Fonte Nova. Officially known as the Estadio Octavio Mangabeira, the Fonte Nova was opened on 28 January 1951 and was the venue for many a derby between Salavador’s Esporte Clube Bahia and Esporte Clube Vitoria. It was closed in November 2007 and subsequently demolished three years later. The stadium that will rise in its place, the Arena Fonte Nova, is modelled on its predecessor and will be covered by a lightweight, metal roof. A public-private joint venture, the complex will house a panoramic restaurant, museum of football, car parks, shops, hotels and a concert hall. Maintaining the proud tradition of the Fonte Nova, the new 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.
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The people of Fortaleza have a passion for the game as well as the city’s two biggest clubs, Ceara and Fortaleza. And it is an attachment that can only grow with the remodelling of the city’s main football stadium, the Castelao.
Built in 1973 and officially known as the Estadio Governador Placido Castelo, the Castelao is home to both teams and will be entirely renovated in time to host matches at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.   As well as having its capacity increased to 64,165, the revamped stadium will boast an underground car park with 4,200 spaces, executive boxes, a VIP area, media centre, mixed zone and fully refurbished dressing rooms. In addition, a new roof will cover all its tiers, including the pitchside ring of seating.
Access to the Castelao is also being upgraded, with the creation of four exclusive bus lanes, an LRV (light rail vehicle) line and two metro stations, making it far easier for fans to reach the stadium and the complex it will form part of, which will house restaurants, cinemas, a hotel and an Olympic centre. The Castelao is the venue for A Seleção’s second group match at Brazil 2014. The support the home favourites receive is sure to be every bit as fervent as it was when they ran out there for a March 2002 friendly against Yugoslavia, the game that marked Ronaldo’s long-awaited return to action in the build-up to Brazil’s triumph at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.
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One of the most historic venues in Brazilian football and called home by Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro, both former national champions, the 66,805 capacity Estadio Mineirao is set to undergo a complete overhaul prior to hosting six matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ - including one semi-final. The modernisation project includes the lowering of the pitch surface and improving stadium accessibility, among other issues, with sustainability principles at the core of all work carried out. Exemplifying this approach is the facility to capture and store up to 6,270,000 litres of rainwater, which can then be reused. Located in the Pampulha neighbourhood of Belo Horizonte and inaugurated on 5 December 1965, the stadium belongs to the Minas Gerais state government. Going by the official name of the Estadio Governador Magalhaes Pinto, in footballing circles it is almost universally known as the Mineirão. Boasting an enthusiastic and vibrant atmosphere on matchdays, whether it be O Galo (Atletico Mineiro) or A Raposa (Cruzeiro) that are playing at home, the Mineirão has also proved a worthy setting for Brazilian national team matches – including A Seleção’s clashes with arch-rivals Argentina in FIFA World Cup qualifying encounters in 2004 and 2008. What is more, the stadium has been regularly graced over the years by attacking legends such as Ronaldo, Tostao, Reinaldo and Dario.
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Few Brazilian cities can match the capital Brasilia when it comes to architecture, and the imposing Estadio Nacional is a reflection of that, an arena with seating for 70,042 spectators, making it the second largest of the stadiums hosting matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The city’s Estadio Mane Garrincha has been all but demolished to make way for the stadium, which will boast a new facade, metal roof and stands, as well as a lowered pitch enabling unobstructed views from every seat. Founded on carbon neutrality, recycling and complete access via public transport, this environmentally friendly construction project will consolidate Brasilia’s status as a world leader in sustainable urban planning, creating a valuable legacy for other sectors of the local economy. Due for completion towards the end of 2012, the Estadio Nacional will host the Opening Match at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 and seven games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, one of them a quarter-final tie.
The stadium will be Brasilia’s third, along with the Serejao, the home of Brasiliense, and the Bezerrao, which was recently refurbished and reopened in 2008. Following the world finals the arena will be used to host concerts and major cultural events.
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Ever since renovation works were completed in June 1999, the historic Estadio Joaquim Americo – better known as the Arena da Baixada – has been considered one of Brazil’s most modern and best-appointed stadiums. It came as no surprise, therefore, that the home ground of Atletico Paranaense, which was originally constructed back in 1914, was among those venues chosen to host games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. Prior to welcoming the global showpiece, however, the stadium will undergo another set of renovation works which are due for completion in December 2012. Included in this process are a series of improvements in facilities and the addition of rows of extra seats parallel to the pitch. This will result in an increased capacity of 40,000, with the stadium set to welcome four matches at Brazil 2014.
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