The preparations for the World Cup proceed, amidst concerns that at least one venue, at Curitiba, is so far behind its construction schedule that it may need to be withdrawn and the overall tournament program be rescheduled. President Dilma Rousseff was quoted, "The Brazilian government will do everything, and the stadiums will be ready. Stadiums are relatively simple construction projects.” (Really…!?) A special 10,000-strong riot force is to be established for the World Cup in an effort to support police control during the tournament in Brazil. Col. Alexandre Augusto Aragon heads the elite National Security Force, with high level security control centres to be located at each venue.
FIFA has appointed Scottish-based temporary power provider Aggreko as a branded licensee for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Aggreko will supply power solutions to the tournament’s international broadcast centre and stadiums in the 12 host cities to ensure the successful delivery of television images from matches in a deal expected to save $20m in running costs for Brazil’s host cities, including up to $5m in Rio de Janeiro alone. This provides the vital independent power supply security for the World Cup broadcasts.
Brazil’s population is expected to grow beyond 200 million in 2014. Life expectancy is increasing and President Dilma Rousseff has assiduously courted the low income people with a variety of policies to support them, including a cap on some prices, help them out of extreme poverty and create new education and training opportunities. There have been new child health programs and much access to computers and the internet. There has been a major rehousing program financed by the government and the World Bank. The Bolsa Familia program that provides cash support has been running for 10 years and has close to 14 million enrolments. There is debate about the real effectiveness of some policies, clearing administrative, tax and infrastructure impediments has been given second priority; prices have been rising while growth has been lower and more volatile than hoped. However, the efforts will come home to roost as Dilma faces the national Presidential election in October this year.
The Guardian provides some low cost accommodation advice…
It might be noisy, and even a bit awkward, but football fans heading to Rio for the World Cup might have to settle for a "love motel" in the city, such is the shortage of more traditional accommodation. Such motels in Brazil are generally used by couples looking for a "romantic" time away from the home or the office.
Rooms are charged by the hour (usually a minimum of four to six) but with demand for accommodation during the World Cup at record levels, and prices in host cities up by as much as almost 250%, some motels are changing their booking policy, making it possible to book in advance, or to book for a night, rather than just a few hours (see examples below). A number of motels are also revamping and registering with the Ministry of Tourism.
Brazil World Cup 2014 timetable: draw, groups and knockout fixtures
• Dates for group matches, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B: Spain, Holland, Chile, Australia
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
Fixtures (all times are British Summer Time)
Group A
12 June 2014: Brazil v Croatia, Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo, 21:00
13 June 2014: Mexico v Cameroon, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00
17 June 2014: Brazil v Mexico, Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza, 20:00
18 June 2014: Cameroon v Croatia, Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, 23:00
23 June 2014: Cameroon v Brazil, Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00
23 June 2014: Croatia v Mexico, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 21:00
Group B
13 June 2014: Spain v Holland, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00
13 June 2014: Chile v Australia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, 23:00
18 June 2014: Spain v Chile, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20:00
18 June 2014: Australia v Holland, Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00
23 June 2014: Australia v Spain, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 17:00
23 June 2014: Holland v Chile, Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo, 17:00
Group C
14 June 2014: Colombia v Greece, Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, 17:00
15 June 2014: Ivory Coast v Japan, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 02:00
19 June 2014: Colombia v Ivory Coast, Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00
19 June 2014: Japan v Greece, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00
24 June 2014: Japan v Colombia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, 21:00
24 June 2014: Greece v Ivory Coast, Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza, 21:00
Group D
14 June 2014: Uruguay v Costa Rica, Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza, 20:00
14 June 2014: England v Italy, Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, 23:00
19 June 2014: Uruguay v England , Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo, 20:00
20 June 2014: Italy v Costa Rica, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00
24 June 2014: Italy v Uruguay, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00
24 June 2014: Costa Rica v England, Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, 17:00
Group E
15 June 2014: Switzerland v Ecuador, Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00
15 June 2014: France v Honduras, Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00
20 June 2014: Switzerland v France, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00
20 June 2014: Honduras v Ecuador, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 23:00
25 June 2014: Honduras v Switzerland, Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, 21:00
25 June 2014: Ecuador v France, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 21:00
Group F
15 June 2014: Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 23:00
16 June 2014: Iran v Nigeria, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 20:00
21 June 2014: Argentina v Iran, Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, 17:00
21 June 2014: Nigeria v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, 23:00
25 June 2014: Nigeria v Argentina, Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00
25 June 2014: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Iran, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00
Group G
16 June 2014: Germany v Portugal, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00
16 June 2014: Ghana v USA, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00
21 June 2014: Germany v Ghana, Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza, 20:00
22 June 2014: USA v Portugal, Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, 23:00
26 June 2014: USA v Germany, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00
26 June 2014: Portugal v Ghana, Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00
Group H
17 June 2014: Belgium v Algeria, Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, 17:00
17 June 2014: Russia v South Korea, Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, 23:00
22 June 2014: Belgium v Russia, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 17:00
22 June 2014: South Korea v Algeria, Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00
26 June 2014: South Korea v Belgium, Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo, 21:00
26 June 2014: Algeria v Russia, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 21:00
Second round
28 June 2014: Second-round 1: Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B, Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, 17:00
28 June 2014: Second-round 2: Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 21:00
29 June 2014: Second-round 3: Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A, Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza, 17:00
29 June 2014: Second-round 4: Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 21:00
30 June 2014: Second-round 5: Winner Group E v Runner-up Group F, Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00
30 June 2014: Second-round 6: Winner Group G v Runner-up Group H, Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 21:00
1 July 2014: Second-round 7: Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E, Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo, 17:00
1 July 2014: Second-round 8: Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 21:00
Quarter-finals
4 July 2014: Quarter-final 1: Winner Second-round 1 v Winner Second-round 2, Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza, 21:00
4 July 2014: Quarter-final 2: Winner Second-round 5 v Winner Second-round 6, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 17:00
5 July 2014: Quarter-final 3: Winner Second-round 3 v Winner Second-round 4, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 21:00
5 July 2014: Quarter-final 4: Winner Second-round 7 v Winner Second-round 8, Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00
Semi-finals
8 July 2014: Semi-final 1: Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2, Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, 21:00
9 July 2014: Semi-final 2: Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4, Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo, 21:00
Third-place play-off
12 July 2014: Loser semi-final 1 v Loser semi-final 2, Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00
World Cup Final
13 July 2014: Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20:00
