Chilean FA announces that it will use Belo Horizonte as 2014 FIFA World Cup base
Announcement comes weeks after Argentinean FA also sign agreement to be based in the city
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 12 December 2013: The Chilean FA has followed Argentina in signing an agreement to be based in central Belo Horizonte during next year’s FIFA World Cup. The agreement was signed between Chilean FA President, Sergio Jadue, and reigning Brazilian league champions, Cruzeiro, to use their world class facilities during next year’s tournament.
Known as ‘Toca da Raposa’ [The Fox Hole], the state of the art facility, regarded as one of the best training centres in Brazil, occupies 8,300 square metres and is complete with four full sized football pitches, a heated swimming pool and an on-site 25 room hotel with restaurants, games rooms, a movie theatre, administrative offices and a media centre.
Located in Belo Horizonte’s Pampulha district, Toca da Raposa is only 8km from the newly renovated Mineirão Stadium, the 62,500 seat multi-purpose venue that will host six matches, including a semi-final during next year’s tournament.
In April this year, the Chilean team trained at Toca da Raposa ahead of their friendly with Brazil at the Mineirão Stadium and it is thought that their experience using the facility was a major factor in their decision to base themselves their during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The news follows the announcement in October that Argentina will also be based in Belo Horizonte, at Atlético Mineiro’s Cidade do Galo training complex.
Argentina, along with England, Colombia, Belgium, Greece, Algeria, Iran and Costa Rica will play group games in Belo Horizonte and if hosts and tournament favourites, Brazil, win their group, they will also play their last 16 match in the city.
Speaking about the announcement, Sergio Jadue, President of the Chilean FA, said: “This is a modern training centre with the appropriate privacy for the team and our delegation, it’s not by accident that Cruzeiro are the 2013 Brazilian league champions.”
Camillo Fraga, Municipal Secretary for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, said:
“We are delighted that Chile, alongside Argentina, will use Belo Horizonte as a base during the FIFA World Cup and we welcome their players, officials and fans. This is a big boost for the city and an excellent opportunity for us to welcome tourists from neighbouring Latin American countries as well those who will travel in from around the world.
“The fact that two top class teams will use Belo Horizonte and its fantastic facilities is a great endorsement for the city and it makes us very proud. The FIFA World Cup is providing us with an opportunity to show the world what the city has to offer and we must capitalise on this to create a lasting legacy of international sports events and improved infrastructure that will benefit the whole of the region.
“Our plans are really taking shape ahead of this wonderful festival football and we are excited and ready to welcome world the Belo Horizonte.”
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Note to Editors:
The 2014 FIFA World Cup group fixtures that will be played in Belo Horizonte are;
Colombia v Greece – Saturday 14 June 2014
Belgium v Algeria – Tuesday 17 June 2014
Argentina v Iran – Saturday 21 June 2014
Costa Rica v England – Tuesday 24 June 2014
Hosts and tournament favourites, Brazil, will also play their last 16 game in Belo Horizonte if they win Group A and the city will also host a semi-final.
Named ‘World Bar Capital’ by The New York Times, Belo Horizonte is also famed for its many cultural delights. The city is home to many works of celebrated Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer, and
it is also the gateway to several tourist places within the region such as Ouro Preto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Inhotim Institute, located 60km from the city, is the largest open-air contemporary art museum in the world.
Looking beyond the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Belo Horizonte will also play a key role in the delivery of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by hosting a selection of matches in the Olympic football tournament, while Team GB athletes will also use the city’s top class facilities to train and prepare ahead of South America’s first ever Olympic Games.
Images:
Please find attached the following low resolution images:
Image 1: Toca da Raposa, Chile’s base for the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Image 2: Cidade do Galo, Argentina’s base for the 2014 FIFA World Cup
High resolution images are available on request.
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