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FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: Salvador
Tracing its roots to the Portuguese occupation of South America, the city of Salvador now wears its multicultural history proudly. Like all of Brazil the city is also crazy for football and will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the stadia of its two local sides - Esporte Clube Bahia and Esporte Clube Vitória.
FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: São Paulo
Sao Paulo and its rival, Rio de Janeiro, are often compared to New York and Los Angeles respectively. If Rio has gained fame for its striking natural setting, Sao Paulo’s attraction lies in its people and its vibrant cultures.
FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: Porto Alegre
Home to arguably two of the most important football clubs in Brazil - Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense and Sport Club Internacional - Porto Alegre is regarded as one of the powerhouses of the national sport. With a new stadium build ahead of kick of, the city is sure to be a key location for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: Brasília
Since its official foundation on April 21st 1960, the city of Brasília has served the purpose for which it was built: to replace Rio de Janeiro as the country’s capital. Now - following a successful test at the Futsal World Cup 2008 – the city will step in to host the biggest tournament of them all.
FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is both Brazil’s tourism capital and its footballing capital, and the passion that the locals hold for the beautiful game is arguably unrivalled anywhere else in the world. As well as its incomparable natural beauty, Rio’s rich history and the contagious joie de vivre of the locals make it the most visited city in the southern hemisphere.
FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: Recife
Home to three of the biggest football clubs in Brazil - Sport Club do Recife, Santa Cruz Futebol Clube and Clube Náutico Capibaribe – Recife is also among the top tourist destination in Brazil. Ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup the city is city is preparing a new 45,000 seater stadium to sit alongside the tropical climate and the spectacular beaches.
FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: Fortaleza
Home to two of the most popular clubs from the north-east of Brazil - Ceará Sporting Club and Fortaleza Esporte Clube – Fortaleza is also a popular beach destination. With the already magnificent Plácido Castelo Stadium renovated ahead of the tournament, the city looks like one of the hottest tickets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2014 Host City: Manaus
The combination of outstanding natural beauty, local traditions and a feeling of a metropolis on the rise all give Manaus a unique atmosphere. The football mad locals count five professional sides among their number, but local rivalries will be put to one side as the city welcomes the world for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2014: Away from the football
Although this is the time for Brazil to burst onto the global stage, there was, of course, a thriving tourism industry in the country before the World Cup came to town. So what about those destinations which will not be swamped by football fans looking for the next big game? Here Breaking Travel News takes a run through some of the tourism attractions which will likely retain an air of serenity this summer.
FIFA World Cup 2014: Tourism in Brazil
The global spotlight will be on Brazil for the next four weeks as the destination hosts the greatest sporting show on earth, the FIFA World Cup. Here Breaking Travel news takes a look at what the hundreds of thousands of international visitors to the country can expect once their planes touch down in South America. We also look at the three host cities England fans will encounter – Manaus, Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte – as they follow their team around the country.
FIFA World Cup 2014: Brazilian football profile
With the FIFA World Cup 2014 beginning this week, Breaking Travel News here takes a look at the sporting and cultural history of host’s Brazil. Founded in 1914 and affiliated to FIFA since 1923, the Confederaçao Brasileira de Futebol boasts a staggering list of honours.
Breaking Travel News Interview: Akbar Al Baker, president, IATA AGM 2014
Elected unanimously as president for this year’s Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association, Akbar Al Baker is, perhaps, better know in his role as the chief executive office of Qatar Airways. At the final press conference of this year’s event Phil Blizzard spoke with this veteran of the aviation industry and asked him what it meant to Qatar and indeed Qatar Airways to host this event.