City – Natal
Stadium name – Arena das Dunas
Stadium capacity – 43,000
World Cup games – 4
Time zone – 3 hours behind GMT
Group A – Mexico v Cameroon
Group G – Ghana v USA
Group C – Japan v Greece
Group D – Italy v Uruguay
Natal is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte state in northeastern Brazil, famed for its miles of rolling sand dunes and – useful info here – as the home of the biggest cashew tree in the world.
Three beautiful beaches, an off-season carnival which unfortunately isn’t held in June, and a 16th Century fort. It is after all as close as Brazil’s state capitals get to continental Africa and Europe.
Fly into Augusto Severo International Airport either internally from the usual Rio / Sao Paulo hubs or from Europe (Amsterdam, Rome, Lisbon: check for the cheapest flight combos).
The airport is around 11 miles from central Natal and is likely to cost upwards of £12 in a taxi.
The Arena das Dunas is a purpose-built football stadium commissioned for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. As its name suggests, the stadium is inspired by the expansive dunes along the region’s Atlantic coast.
The Dunas’ shape imitates a flower’s petals, with the top tier segmented and each bit with its own individual roof. The gap between each segment should move air around the stadium making Natal’s tropical climate a bit more bearable.
Arena das Dunas is 3 miles from the old town (Cidade Alta e Ribeira) along Natal’s main artery, the BR-101. It’s about 4 miles north of touristy Ponta Negra too, and near 2 of the city’s major shopping centres so transport is plentiful and relatively inexpensive.
Hotels near to the stadium include the Monza Palace Hotel, Hotel Maine and Cassa do Holandes (all about 15 minutes’ walk). However, stay there and you’ll miss out on the prettified Ponta Negra or historic eastern beaches by the old town.
TripAdvisor recommends the Best Western Premier Majestic, Manary Praia Hotel, Bamboo Flat, Serhs Natal Grand Hotel, Enseada Praia Hotel and Visual Praia Hotel. Search booking sites to find the best hotel deals for your budget.
Just four World Cup games will take place in Natal; to get your Arena das Dunas match tickets you'll need to contact eSeats.com. eSeats.com is a licensed ticket agency based in Scottsdale, Arizona USA. To contact eSeats.com call 1-480-361-2708 or CLICK HERE.
England aren’t set to play in Natal in the World Cup Group Stages; check out the fixtures here, World Cup Groups.
Plan your travel to Natal
Make sure you arrange travel insurance as soon as you book and plan your spending carefully – including your phone bill and Brazilian currency (cash, credit card or prepaid card). When booking your flights or an inclusive World Cup package, pay by credit card to earn Section 75 protection.
7 museums, 12 beaches, crystal clear waters with pristine coral reefs, and one really big tree. Natal is beautiful, and supposedly Brazil’s safest state-capital.
For foodies, TripAdvisor recommends Camaroes Restaurante, Camaroes Potiguar, Trilha do Camarao, Mangai nad Dolce Vita.
Natal average temperature (June): 25°C
Natal average rainfall (June): 210 mm
Local hero Marinho Chagas played left-back for Brazil during the 1974 World Cup but otherwise Natal’s footballing legacy is fairly thin on the ground. Clubs-wise, it’s a straight choice between America de Natal and ABC Futebol Clube.
Stadium: Estadio das Dunas
Country: Brazil
City: Natal
Capacity: 42086