Arena das Dunas

The stadium sits in Natal with nothing to hide behind. The white shell that covers the stands is the first thing that draws the eye. It is a series of curved ribs that lock together to form a roof, and they are visible from every street that leads to the ground. The blue seats underneath sit in clear sections, and you can see the pitch is cut with long, straight lines of grass. The roof is the ground's real feature. It keeps the sun off the players and gives the players' dugouts shelter from the heat. The structure sits on a concrete base with wide ramps leading up to the entrances. The surrounding area is flat and open, with a network of roads curving around the perimeter. Tall buildings rise up in the distance, showing the city growing around the venue. América Futebol Clube plays its home matches here, and ABC Futebol Clube also uses the ground. The capacity was adjusted after the World Cup, with temporary seating removed to bring the number down to a permanent figure. The surface is natural grass, which was recently replaced with a new variety called Celebration. The ground has hosted serious matches. Brazil played Bolivia here in a World Cup qualifier, winning comfortably. The crowd was large enough to fill the stands for that game, and the players dug in to secure the result. The atmosphere is shaped by the location; the wind moves freely across the open area, and the city skyline provides a backdrop for every kick.

Named after the dunes that once surrounded the site, the Arena das Dunas has become a fixture in the city of Natal. The architecture firm Populous designed the venue, and the final structure is a modern replacement for the old Machadão stadium. The roof is the defining element, a series of white ribs that curve over the blue seats. It is a clean design, and the lines of the pitch are straight and sharp. The ground has hosted international games, including World Cup qualifiers, and the local clubs have adapted their play to the conditions. The venue sits at Av. Prudente de Morais, 5121, and it has a presence that matches the city's ambitions.