Recife and the World Cup in Brazil

Cut up by rivers and full of bridged (close to 60) Recife is known as the Venice of Brazil. The unusual Dutch influence that occurred only in this part of the Brazilian Northeast is one of the interesting factors to explore the city culturally. With museums, churches, and houses from the Portuguese colonial period, the city is famous for its calm lakes created by reefs typical for its beaches. In catamaran trips down the main river that cuts through the city, the Capibaribe, you can admire its mangroves. For art lovers, you can't miss the fabulous workshop of the native artist Francisco Brennand, located in the middle of the Atlantic forest, where thousands of works of ceramics, paintings and installation art are brought together.

Recife historical center, wikipedia

Francisco Brennand studio

Olinda view, wikipedia

In the neighboring city of Olinda, with its hills and magnificent views that combine antique houses with the sea in the background, you will find rich historic heritage. Frevo and maracatu, typical musical rhythms in Pernambuco, are registered trademarks during the city street carnival, which exhibits excited floats of revelers like Galo da Madrugada.

Frevo, typical dance from Pernambuco State in Brazil

With respect to the art on the field, three clubs divide the state's attention: Sport, Santa Cruz and Náutico. Giant rivals in the local tournament, historic duels have collided for almost 100 years. The stadiums of the teams, Ilha do retiro, Arruda and Aflitos, are excellent locations to watch the heat that emanates from the passionate fans in Recife.

Pernambuco arena

As one of the best stages to see the Brazilian soccer team, the capital of Pernambuco state boasts the Pernambuco Arena, host for three games in the Confederations Cup in 2013 and five World Cup games in 2014. With 44.248 seats, the stadium has become a landmark in the city, since it includes the construction of a totally planned neighborhood and a complex that will house a museum, shopping center, restaurants, convention center, and other amenities. Náutico has the right to be the owner of the new Arena after the World Cup. Favorites to win the trophy, such as Germany and Italy, will show up in this field.

June 14^th – Saturday - 07:00pm – Ivory Coast x Japan (group C)

June 20^th – Friday - 01:00pm - Italy x Costa Rica (group  D)

June 23^rd – Monday - 05:00pm - Croatia x Mexico (group A)

June 26^th – Thursday - 01:00pm - United States  x Germany (group G)

June 29^th – Sunday – 05:00pm – 1^st of Group D x 2^nd of Group C

Croatia profile

The skills of Didier Drogba from Ivory Coast National team

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

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

Natal and the World Cup in Brazil

The sun favors this city, which is sunny almost all year round. Because of that, Natal is known as the city of the sun, and a scene from paradise. The white sand dunes contrasting against the blue sea dazzle thousands of tourists that explore its coastline from North to South. A cashew tree with an immense canopy of more than 7,000 square meters, which produces cashew fruit in addition to the nut that most foreign tourists know, is also worth seeing. At night, forró, traditional popular dance in Natal, is an invitation for a little relaxation.

Ponta Negra beach, photo by Ricardo   

 Genipabu beach, wikipedia

Pipa beach, photo by Helder da Rocha

The great soccer rivalry is the Potiguar Championship, as the state tournament is called. ABC and América are the clubs that divide sports fans in Rio Grande do Norte and have gathered the most recent local titles.

Dunes Arena in Natal, RN

In this year, fans will be even more enthusiastic to receive four games of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 in the Dunes Arena, a stadium which has capacity for 42.086 people. Stage for local heroes like América de Natal, will show traditional competitive forces to the world, like Uruguay and Italy.

June 13^th –  Friday -  01:00pm - Mexico x Cameroon  (group A)

June 16^th – Monday - 07:00pm - Ghana x United States  (group G)

June 19^th – Thursday - 07:00pm -  Japan x Greece (group C)

June 24^th – Tuesday - 01:00pm -  Italy  x Uruguay (group  D)

The American star Jozy Altidore

Ghana National team profile

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

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