Maracana to host final

Fifa has confirmed that Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium will provide the setting for the 2014 World Cup final.

Rio de Janeiro arena to stage 2014 World Cup showpiece

Fifa has confirmed that Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana stadium will provide the setting for the 2014 World Cup final. The giant arena hosted the final of the 1950 tournament, when some 200,000 people crammed in to see Brazil suffer a shock loss to Uruguay. The current capacity is around 82,000 and Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke has announced it will again stage the showpiece in three years' time. "The final is already certain, even though we think that lots of other cities could have hosted this match," said Valcke. "This stadium already hosted the final 61 years ago. What we have to decide now is where the semi-finals and the opening match will take place." Vying with Rio de Janeiro for the honour of hosting the trophy match were Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Salvador, with 12 venues set to be used in total during the tournament. The World Cup will open on 12th June, 2014 and end on 13th July.