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Cape Town - The Soccer World Cup is just days away, but for the many fans who won't be able to personally get to the games, Google has provided a way with Street View.
The global internet giant announced on Friday that users of its online program could get front row seats to the stadiums that will host the global soccer showcase which starts on 12 June.
Google made all 12 stadiums available on its online platform on Friday along with views of access routes and public transit maps.
The Fifa tournament will see the host nation as favourites to win the tournament for a record sixth time.
Defending champions Spain won their first title in the 2010 SA tournament and earned 6:1 odds of winning versus the host's 3:1 rating by William Hill.
Mass protests
But not all is well in Brazil as mass protests have marred the soccer showcase.
Sao Paulo was recently rocked by a train operators' strike as teachers, police among others have demanded that money spent on the World Cup be directed to social causes.
A general strike during the tournament could cripple the hosting cities as millions make use of public transport infrastructure.
Brazil's Neymar, left, runs for the ball against Maicon, right, during a practice session at the Granja Comary training centre in Teresopolis. (Hassan Ammar, AP)
Brazil has ear-marked $11bn in spending on the World Cup, but even a successful tournament may not see the country recoup the money it spends.
The majority of the stadiums that SA refurbished or built for the Word Cup in 2010 are in dire financial straits and it is likely that local municipalities will have to bail them out.
The 2014 World Cup is expected to the largest ever.
Only about 600 000 attended the 1930 tournament of 18 games, while over three million attended the 64 games in 2010.
- Follow Duncan on Twitter
The global internet giant announced on Friday that users of its online program could get front row seats to the stadiums that will host the global soccer showcase which starts on 12 June.
Google made all 12 stadiums available on its online platform on Friday along with views of access routes and public transit maps.
The Fifa tournament will see the host nation as favourites to win the tournament for a record sixth time.
Defending champions Spain won their first title in the 2010 SA tournament and earned 6:1 odds of winning versus the host's 3:1 rating by William Hill.
Mass protests
But not all is well in Brazil as mass protests have marred the soccer showcase.
Sao Paulo was recently rocked by a train operators' strike as teachers, police among others have demanded that money spent on the World Cup be directed to social causes.
A general strike during the tournament could cripple the hosting cities as millions make use of public transport infrastructure.
Brazil's Neymar, left, runs for the ball against Maicon, right, during a practice session at the Granja Comary training centre in Teresopolis. (Hassan Ammar, AP)
Brazil has ear-marked $11bn in spending on the World Cup, but even a successful tournament may not see the country recoup the money it spends.
The majority of the stadiums that SA refurbished or built for the Word Cup in 2010 are in dire financial straits and it is likely that local municipalities will have to bail them out.
The 2014 World Cup is expected to the largest ever.
Only about 600 000 attended the 1930 tournament of 18 games, while over three million attended the 64 games in 2010.
- Follow Duncan on Twitter
