Google releases Street View of all 12 World Cup stadiums

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 5 (UPI) -- Google Maps Street View released a new feature that allows users to explore all of the 12 World Cup stadiums and surrounding areas in Brazil.

The Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo -- the street on which legendary Maracana stadium sits -- in Rio de Janeiro was already available on Street View, but without interior views of the stadium. The feature will give users who are unable to attend the World Cup to get a view of the stadiums -- from Manaus' white dome in the Amazon to the Maracana.

"The World Cup is the biggest global sports tournament," Google Street View program manager Deanna Yick wrote in a blog post. "And whether you're watching the games from the comfort of your couch or packing your bags for Brazil, Google Maps is your ticket to the World Cup."

Apart from the stadiums, online tourists can see various sights of the country including Brazil's painted streets -- a World Cup tradition -- Iguaçu National Park and St. Michael of the Missions.

Street view will also have enhanced transit data that will help tourists new to the country, including indoors maps for over 100 venues across the country, such as airports, streets and malls.

In addition to the World Cup images, Google also released new imagery for other Latin American countries, including Peru, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.