The first capital city in Brazil’s history, Salvador will welcome the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ at a new, purpose-built stadium with a capacity of 56,000. The new arena will host six games at the tournament and is being constructed on the site of the Fonte Nova.
Officially known as the Estadio Octavio Mangabeira, the Fonte Nova was opened on 28 January 1951 and was the venue for many a derby between Salavador’s Esporte Clube Bahia and Esporte Clube Vitoria. It was closed in November 2007 and subsequently demolished three years later.
The stadium that will rise in its place, the Arena Fonte Nova, is modelled on its predecessor and will be covered by a lightweight, metal roof. A public-private joint venture, the complex will house a panoramic restaurant, museum of football, car parks, shops, hotels and a concert hall.
Maintaining the proud tradition of the Fonte Nova, the new stadium will host four group matches, three of them featuring top-seeded teams, as well as a Round-of-16 match and a quarter-final tie.
