2014 World Cup starts Sao Paulo, ends in Rio

Published November 20, 2014

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will start in Sao Paulo on June 12 and conclude in Rio de Janeiro on July 13, FIFA announced Thursday.

Five-time World Cup champion and host Brazil will play the first match of the event in Sao Paulo at a new 65,000-seat stadium, and be a favorite to make the final in Rio at Maracana stadium, which hosted the 1950 World Cup final.

The 1950 final, which Uruguay won 2-1 over Brazil, set an attendance record of 199,854. The Maracana has been renovated and now seats fewer than 100,000, and will undergo another update before the tournament.

Brazil will only play in the Maracana if it reaches the final.

The tournament will be played in 12 cities across Brazil.

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