Porto Alegre and the World Cup in Brazil

Full of secular tradition, the Southern capital is part of the southern region of the country. It is there that the creation of Brazilian barbeque was spread, which can be tasted with the special cuts of local beef. Due in part to the influence of German and Italian colonization, the cuisine and viniculture are also attractions that can't be missed. In the area surrounding the city is a region of Brazilian canyons: Aparados da Serra, with its deep valleys lined with araucarias, a species of native pine.

Public market, wikipedia

Museum for Ibere Camargo Foundation, photo by Alvaro Siza Architects

Typical dance of gaucho folklore, photo by Tetraksys, wikipedia

Rio Grande do Sul has a long history in Brazilian soccer. It is home to renowned national-level clubs, like Caxias and Juventude. Nevertheless, it could be said that the state is divided in two colors: blue and red.

The blue club is actually three colors. Grêmio, which also has black and white on its uniform, was the world champion in 1983, with a victory in Tokyo, Japan, over Hamburg, 2 x 1. Years later, Internacional, its greatest rival, beat Barcelona 1 x 0 in 2006, and won the title that had kept it behind Grêmio. The game between the two teams, known as Gre-Nal, is a guaranteed attraction for the state championship, as well as for the Series A Brazilian Championship.

Although Grêmio inaugurated its new stadium in 2012, the stage for five games of the World Cup will be Beira-Rio, Internacional's stadium. With a capacity for 48.849 fans, the red stadium is fully prepared for the tournament, hosting games for the home team.

Beira Rio stadium

France, the winner of 1998 edition, will be one of the stars playing in Porto Alegre, with Argentina and Netherlands as partners. A set of strong matches takes place in Beira-Rio in the group stage and, certainly, in the round of 16.

June 15^th – Sunday - 04:00pm - France x Honduras (group E)

June 18th - Wednesday - 01:00pm - Australia x Netherlands (group B)

June 22^nd – Sunday - 01:00pm – South Korea  x Algeria  (group H)

June 25^th – Wednesday - 01:00pm - Nigeria x Argentina (group  F)

June 30^th – Monday - 05:00pm – 1^st group G x 2^nd group H (round of 16)

France national team profile

Robin Van Persie, the Dutch star

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