FIFA Announces 2014 Brazil World Cup Venues

FIFA has officially announced the 12 venues for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil (see FIFA news). Yesterday, after a weekend-long gathering in Nassau, Bahamas, the final list was revealed, confirming Brazil's major cities as hosts.

Hopefully, Brazil will do an awesome job of catching up with requirements for the event. Long before the list of venues was confirmed, Agência Brasil, the national news agency, reported on a study carried out by Sinaenco, the National Architecture and Engineering Syndicate, pointing out what the hopefuls would need to do to improve their stadiums.

I can't wait to see Maracanã all decked out for the World Cup. I spent my childhood very near the great stadium. My father, a soccer fanatic from birth, used to go to the stadium construction site after school when he was a kid just to watch it being built, in anticipation of the 1950 World Cup. I hope for a final with a better result this time.

Photo of Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho (Maracanã), Rio de Janeiro courtesy of Riotur.