ARENA CORINTHIANS, BRAZIL (WORLD CUP 2014)

Key facts

Club: SC Corinthians Paulista | Opening: 2014 | Capacity: 48,000 seats (World Cup: 68,000 seats)

History and description

The Arena Corinthians, also referred to as Arena de Itaquera and Arena de Sao Paulo, got built to serve as a playing venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and to provide Corinthians with an own home.

Building works started in May 2011 and were planned to be completed in December 2013. However, an incident in which a crane and part of the roof structure collapsed, killing two workers, meant that the opening is expected to get pushed back to 2014.

The Arena Corinthians will have a capacity of 48,000 seats, but for the purpose of the World Cup another 20,000 will be added. During the World Cup, it will host the opening match, three further group matches, a round of 16 match, and one of the two semi-finals.

After the World Cup, the arena will become the new home of Corinthians, who currently rent the city-owned Estádio do Pacaembu.