As long as you can imagine the sunshine on your face, cool breeze on your skin, and 64,000 screaming fans, exploring Brazil's World Cup stadiums on Google Maps is just like being there. Well, maybe not, but where else are you going to get the chance to stare at the clouds from the middle of the campo?
Unidade Gestora do Projeto Copa, the Brazilian organization in charge of building the stadiums, built 7 new stadiums, and renovated 5 more to create a wide palette of futebol experiences. You can see all 12 in the gallery above. Each is unique, but the stadiums can start to blur together in the excitement of the tournament, so head over to Google Maps' World Cup Stadium page to get familiar before the games begin.
The maps are only of the pitch and the stands, so you won't be able to use them to develop a bathroom and beer strategy if you are going to any of the matches. In fact, the navigation is a little stunted overall. All the maps have dead spots that you can't visit, and it can be a little tricky clicking your way into the stands.
Take a look below at Estádio Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre, which will host France vs. Honduras on June 15. The team at Google Maps is known for hiding Easter eggs, so post below if you find anything cool.
Views: Beira-Rio (Estádio José Pinheiro Borda) by Google Maps
