Manaus and the World Cup in Brazil

On the banks of the Amazon River, the city has inherited a rich past, through the rubber cycle, with its gorgeous Opera House and the Municipal Market. Getting into the Amazon rainforest, exploring its biodiversity, fauna and flora is not just a fantasy. From Manaus, by ship or boat, countless forest hotels can be reached which offer tourist experiences with a focus on adventure, contemplation and learning something new. In the month of June, in the neighboring city of Parintins, the spectacular folklore festival of Parintins takes place. It is a mixture of theatre shows, music and dance inspired by legends and the customs of indigenous tribes and Amazonian communities.

Opera House, wikipedia

Meeting of the waters between Solimões and Negro rivers, wikipedia

Feeding the pink dolphins close to a lodge in the Amazon rainforest

The Amazon championship has gained competitiveness over the last few years with the arrival of new clubs, which has divided local passions. Among the teams that have come out on top at the State level are Nacional, which owns the greatest number of titles, Fast Clube, São Raimundo and Rio Negro.

Arena Amazonia, photo by Bruno

For the World Cup, the expectations are high. The Amazônia Arena, constructed especially for the competition, substitutes the traditional stadium Vivaldão. The space, ready and prepared for various sports, has capacity for 42.3 thousand people, who will be able to watch four World Cup games in 2014 in the group stage, featuring an amazing one: England versus Italy, opening the works for group D. Portugal, United States and Switzerland are also relevant teams willing to challenge the heat in Manaus.

June 14^th –Saturday - 10:00pm - England x Italy (group  D)

June 18^th – Wednesday - 04:00pm - Cameroon  x Croatia (group A)

June 22^nd - Sunday - 04:00pm - United States x Portugal (group G)

June 25^th - Wednesday - 05:00pm - Honduras x Switzerland (group E)

The star Andrea Pirlo, one of the respected players of the Italian squad 

The famous and Ballon D'Or 2013-2014 awarded Cristiano Ronaldo

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Fortaleza and the World Cup in Brazil

The tradition of eating crab every Thursday is already a different plan in a visit to Fortaleza. But, beyond typical cooking, its spectacular beaches are spread out over a large area and are interspersed with fishing villages or nested between dunes that rise several meters above the sea.

Cumbuco beach, photo by Eliana Souza   

Morro Branco beach, photo by Eliana Souza

The best place to go, culturally speaking, is the Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture, located next to an area full of restored neoclassical mansions. Theaters, movie theaters, art galleries and museums share space with bars and restaurants. 

Just 30 km away is Beach Park, the largest aquatic park in Latin America, a giant complex that brings together virtually any type of fun in the water, from activities for the family to giant water slides to increase the adrenaline of the visitor. In the Cachaça Museum, owned by the well-known cachaça brand Ypioca, you can learn all about the production process of Brazil's national drink.

Beach Park, photo by Eliana Souza

In the city, you can watch the duel between two large local forces: Ceará and Fortaleza, which are in Brazilian Championship series B and C, respectively. The biggest games used to occur in Presidente Vargas stadium before the Castelão arena reopening.

As one of the first venues to be ready for six games of the World Cup, the Governador Plácido Castelo Stadium, the Castelão, is a local star. It has 63.903 seats and will be on the itinerary of the Brazilian football team over the course of the tournament.

Arena Castelão, photo by Fabio

In the Confederations Cup, the Castelão was the stage for three games. Approved by people and press in that occasion, the beautiful arena will host relevant squads like Brazil, Mexico, bi-champion Uruguay and the tri-champion Germany. No doubt, is one of the most important centers in the group stage. Decisive matches in round of 16 and quarterfinals will take place in Fortaleza as well.

June 14^th – Saturday - 04:00pm - Uruguay x Costa Rica (group D)

June 17^{th -}  Tuesday - 04:00pm - Brazil x Mexico (group  A)

June 21^st  - Saturday - 04:00pm - Germany x Ghana (group  G)

June 24^th-  Tuesday - 05:00pm - Greece x Ivory Coast (group C)

June 29^th  - Sunday - 01:00pm – 1^st winner of Group B x 2^nd winner Group A (round of 16)

July  04^{th –}  Friday - 05:00pm – 1^stt group A or 2^nd Group B x 1^st group C or 2^nd Group D (quarterfinals)

The goals of German national team for 2014 World Cup qualification

Mexican squad profile

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Curitiba and the 2014 World in Brazil

The green capital of the south of the country became well known for its concern over sustainability and urban planning, which could be proven by the efficient public transportation system. Its innumerable parks and green spaces, like the Botanical Garden with its native forest, delight visitors. There are innumerable cultural attractions, but to highlight but a few, there's the Arame Opera House, with its tubular structure and transparent roof, and the Oscar Niemeyer Museum and its work "The Eye" , which just cannot be missed.

Botanical Garden, photo by wikipedia

Oscar Niemeyer Museum, "The Eye', photo by wikipedia

Tingui Park with Ukranian church

Soccer in the state of Paraná has a national presence, although the territory has intense rivalries between local clubs. Coritiba, Atlético Paranaense and Paraná are the triad that always compete for the state title.

Coritiba, at over 100-year old, calls the Mayor Antônio Couto Pereira stadium home, and has won three consecutive state titles until 2013, and this year has lost its supremacy for small local squads, such as Londrina and Maringá.

Arena da Baixada, Curitiba city, photo by Danilo Borges

With its large capacity for 41.456 spectators, the modern Baixada Arena will host games just in the group stage, with the privilege of receiving the current world champion: the feared Spain. The stadium belongs to Atlético Paranaense, one of the main forces in the city, with a relevant presence in the national league.

June 16^th – Monday - 04:00pm - Iran x Nigeria (group F)

June 20^{th –}  Friday - 07:00pm - Honduras x Ecuador (group E)

June 23^rd – Monday - 01:00pm - Australia x Spain (group B)

June 26^{th –}  Thursday - 05:00pm - Algeria x Russia (group  H)

Nigeria squad profile

Russian squad profile

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Cuiabá and the 2014 World Cup

Deep in the mid-west of the country, Cuiabá is the city that best represents rural Brazil for being an important center of ranching and agribusiness. With its warm climate, the city is the entry point for two gems of tourism: the Chapada dos Guimarães and the Pantanal.

Waterfall at Chapada dos Guimarães, photo by Helio Conde

The impressive Aroe Jari cave in sandstone at Chapada dos Guimarães, photo by Helio Conde

With fantastic landscapes, the national park of the Chapada dos Guimarães has caves, caverns and rocky formations in the middle of sandstone canyons up to 350m high, in addition to waterfalls like the famous Véu de Noiva. 

In the Pantanal in the south of Mato Grosso, you find the largest wetlands in the world, with its impressive diversity of fauna and flora. It is an invitation for fishing, photo safari and bird/animal watching found only in Brazil, which is impossible to refuse.

Jabiru flight during sunset at Pantanal, photo by British photographer Daniel Allen

Capybara and caiman, at PantanaI, photo by British photographer Daniel Allen

Onça pintada, the Brazilian jaguar, at Pantanal, photo by British photographer Daniel Allen

The ultra-modern Pantanal Arena was built to be the main stadium in Mato Grosso. With a capacity for 43,600 spectators, it will be the venue for four games in the group phase of the World Cup. The first game of the new arena was Mixto, a local team, and the legendary Santos. Unfortunately, no goals were scored in the match.

Arena Pantanal, photo by Edson Secopa

The local champ of the state of Mato Grosso is Luverdense, who is also challenging the Series B Brazilian championship. Luverdense has also the first player to score in the new arena: Reinaldo. It concentrates attention away from clubs like Cuiabá, Mixto, Operário and Rondonópolis as well.

Tricky games will take place in this city, like the one with Chile – a potential surprise in a group with Spain and Netherlands – versus Australia. Russia is a strong contender as well, same case of Japan and Colombia, competitors in group C. Nigeria and Bosnia, fighting for a place with Argentina in group F, is a promise of interesting clashes in Cuiaba.

June 13^th – Friday - 06:00pm - Chile x Australia (group B)

June 17^th  – Tuesday - 06:00pm - Russia x South Korea (group H )

June 21^st – Saturday - 06:00pm -  Nigeria x Bosnia (group F)

June 24^th – Tuesday - 04:00pm - Japan x Colombia (group C)

Profile of Chilean national team 

Profile of  Japanese national tem

Brasilia and the World Cup in Brazil

The center of decision making in the country, the capital planned by recognized architects Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer is the mirror of modernity and boldness that took control of the country in the middle of the 20th century. You can visit many important buildings shaped by Niemeyer, such as the Palácio do Planalto, where you can admire Brazilian works of art, furniture by the architect Sérgio Rodrigues and, with any luck, the office of president Dilma Rousseff.

Brazilian flag in the Brazilian political capital

 National Congress building

 Esplanade of Ministries, photo by Beth Castelo, RJ

Palácio do Planalto

One of the attractions of the city is the national Stadium of Brasília, Mané Garrincha, opening stage for the Confederations Cup, on June 15th, 2013 – tournament won by Brazil two weeks later. With 72.788  seats, the field will host seven matches in the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.

Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasília, capital of Brazil

Although Brasília is not one of the largest soccer centers in the country, the local rivalry between clubs is still strong. Gama and Brasiliense, for example, have already had big moments in national tournaments, while Ceilândia has risen as an emerging force in the region. The new arena strengthens the competitive scenario in the federal capital, which already counts on the stages of Serejão and Bezerrão, recently reformed. Since 2013, the Mané Garrincha Stadium, which name honors one of the best players in Brazilian soccer history, has been hosting important matches in the national league.

Brasilia will host the local squad in the group stage, in a match against Cameroon. Passionate fans will experience the unique feeling of having the five-star team playing in one of the most important cities in the country. Other six games will transform the atmosphere in the federal capital, featuring Portugal, Colombia, Switzerland, Ecuador and Ghana. The arena hosts decisive matches in the round of 16, quarterfinals and third place decision.

June 15^th – Sunday - 01:00pm – Switzerland x Ecuador (group E)

June 19^th  –Thursday -  01:00pm - Colombia x Ivory Coast (group C )

June 23^{rd  -}  Monday - 05:00pm - Cameroon x Brazil (group A)

June 26^th – Thursday - 01:00pm - Portugal x Ghana (group G)

June 30^rd  – Monday - 01:00pm – 1^st Group E x 2^nd Group F (round of 16)

July   7^th  – Monday  - 01:00pm – 1^st Group F x 2^nd Group H (quarterfinals)

July 12^th -  Saturday – 05:00pm - Decision of third place of the tournament

The Brazilian young talented star Neymar and his tricksy style 

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Belo Horizonte and the 2014 World Cup

Aerial view of Belo Horizonte

Third most important industrial pole in the country, Belo Horizonte is recognized for its important personalities such as writers, musicians and politicians. In its surrounding areas, you find the cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas do Campo and Tiradentes, which hold stories from the cycle of gold and the baroque influence in Brazilian art. The city is also famous for its innumerous bars where you can try a delicious local cachaça, the typical Brazilian drink, and appreciate the tasty Minas Gerais food.

 Liberty square 

Via Cristina, one of the famous bars, where the visitlor can taste several blends of  Brazilian cachaça

Ouro Preto hills 

The soccer rivalry in the city is polarized between Cruzeiro, symbolized by a fox, and Athletico, also known as "Galo". The América Futebol Clube, a traditional sports owner in the state of Minas Gerais, is the third force.

The Minas Gerais fan is very passionate. The city is already breathing to preparation for 2014, and has a countdown clock to the beginning of the world cup in Liberty Square, an important cultural pole of the city.

Mineirão stadium

The temple for the fervor of local fans is Governor Magalhães Pinto stadium, called the Mineirão. A stage for big games since 1965, and with a capacity to house 62,160 fans, it is scheduled to host a semi-final of 2014 World Cup on July 8^th. Other relevant matches in the group stage will take place in this arena.

June 14^th  – Saturday - 01:00pm - Colombia x Greece (group C)

June 17^th  – Tuesday -  01:00pm  -  Belgium x Algeria (group H)

June 21^st  – Saturday - 01:00pm - Argentina x Iran (group F)

June 24^th -  Tuesday - 01:00pm  - Costa Rica x England  (group D)

June 28^{th –} Saturday -  01:00pm -  1^st group A x 2^nd group B (round of 16)

July   8^th  – Tuesday - 05:00pm - winner quarterfinal group 1  x winner quarterfinal 

group 2  – semifinals 1

Two members of World Champions´ club have a place in this city. Argentina brings its tradition and unquestionable Messi and England lands in Brazil with the hope to perform in a high level to become, again, a protagonist.

The speedy, strategist and unbelievable Argentinian star Messi in action

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

The roller coaster of football

He does not believe, he curses, he denies, he shouts, he feels miserable, he cannot control the frustration, he lowers his head, he searches for consolation, he raises his eyes to the sky, he cries...

But then he breathes, he focus, he re-thinks, he carries on, he does not give up, he struggles, he runs, he encourages others, he wins, he dances, he sings, he jumps and flies in the air, he raises his arms, he slides in the lawn, he hugs the other players, he feels relieved, he celebrates with the audience and thanks somebody.