2014 World Cup Brazil - Host city Brasilia

2014 World Cup Brazil - Host city Brasilia

Quick facts about Brasilia:

Brasilia is the capital city of Brazil and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The city was founded as recently as 1960. From above, the main portion of the city was designed to look like an irregular cross, bringing to mind a dragonfly or an airplane. The designer, Lucio Costa, cut his academic teeth at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The growth of Brasilia since its foundation has been faster than expected. Today, over 2.5 million people live in the city, making Brasilia the most populated city at the end of the 20th century that didn't exist at the beginning of the century.

Attractions within a reasonable distance of Brasilia include Caldas Novas, considered to be one of the largest hydro-thermal resorts in the world. The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is another popular tourist destination, characterised by stunning waterfalls and breathtaking mountains. According to NASA, the Chapadas dos Veadeiros National Park is the brightest spot on Earth seen from space.

Brasilia has a tropical wet and dry climate characterised by warm temperatures all year round and a pronounced wet season. World Cup matches - expected to be played in June and July - will take place in the drier period.

Brasilia 2014 World Cup matches

To be confirmed

Brasilia World Cup stadium

The Estadio Nacional de Brasilia (formerly known as the Estadio Mane Garrincha) will stage 2014 World Cup games. The stadium is expected to be refurbished and the capacity increased from the current 45,200 to 71,500 for the 2014 World Cup.

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Brasilia is serviced by the Brasilia International Airport - Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek. The airport lies around 7 miles from Brasilia centre and is a major hub for internal flights as well as international arrivals. Taxis and buses are on hand to transfer passengers to the city centre. Airport operator Infraero unveiled a huge investment plan for refurbishment in time for the 2014 World Cup. Around £200 million will be spent developing the passenger terminal and enlarging taxiways and parking facilities.

The Brasilia Metro underground train service could be considered to be a work in progress. The system only opened in 2001 and new stations are being added all the time. A new system called the Light Metro will link Brasilia to the International Airport in time for the 2014 World Cup.