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World Cup Stadium Guide – Arena de Sao Paulo

By on June 1, 2014

Arena de Sao Paulo

Capacity: 61,606
Group A – Brazil v Croatia (opening match)
Group D – Uruguay v England
Group B – Netherlands v Chile
Group H – S. Korea v Belgium
Round of 16 – Winner Group F v Runner-Up Group E
Semi-Final A – TBC

The Arena de Sao Paulo would undoubtedly be one of the star venues at World Cup 2014, if it isn’t for one small problem; the stadium is still under construction. The incredible arena is scheduled to host the opening match of the tournament, but will host the match while construction is still being finished. Only today it underwent it’s second test match, yet it could only fill three quarters of it’s capacity due to construction delays. Two entire temporary seating areas were not authorized by authorities as safe to hold spectators.

…[M]inor interior parts of the impressive stadium were visibly unfinished, with concrete walls exposed or construction materials lying on unused parts of the stands.” – A reporter for the LA Times

It is only made more of a disaster by the fact that FIFA scheduled what would have been a incredible venue had it been finished to host a Round of 16 and Semifinal match. But the stadium has already been quite a disaster; three workers died during various incidents during construction. The stadium was set to have two levels of pitch-side seating, however, neither of the upper stands on either side were allowed to be filled to full capacity in today’s test match. Meanwhile, the goal-side stands are what make the venue one of the most visually pleasing to host matches at this summer’s World Cup. They each have one stand for seating, and those stands both open at the top to respective massive courtyards. To top it off, two parallel roofs from the two upper seating levels covers the stands.

Early stages of the venue’s construction

Located in the city of Sao Paulo, the stadium is home to Brazilian club Corinthians, who will massively benefit from the construction that costs over $400 million. For the World Cup, the city should be one of the most beloved stadiums, not the least because Sao Paulo’s temperature is less than that of many other host cities, averaging 71 degrees Fahrenheit year round. If only construction could be two weeks ahead of where it is.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.