Google Adds Brazil World Cup Football Stadiums to Street View

The free online mapping service added "Street View" imagery of all 12 World Cup stadiums along with scenes captured on roads painted in festive tribute to the major global sporting event.

(Also see: How to Watch Fifa World Cup 2014 Online)

"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," Street View program manager Deanna Yick said in a blog post.

"And if you're lucky enough to have a physical ticket to Brazil, don't forget to pack Google Maps for mobile."

(Also see: The Science Behind Fifa World Cup's Football Jerseys)

Google mapping applications for smartphones or tablet computers include tools for finding the most efficient ways to get to games using buses or trains in host cities.

The service also features maps of the insides of stadiums, airports, malls and other spots soccer fans may want to explore, according to Yick.

(Also see: Google adds new locations to its underwater Street View imagery)

Images from other potential locations of interest, such as Iguacu National Park and St. Michael of the Missions, were also added to Google Maps.

Google in April introduced a 'time travel' mode for Street View. Street View snapshots now include the option to see what neighbourhoods and landmarks looked like at different periods in the last seven years, as Google Inc. has been dispatching camera-toting cars to take street-level pictures for its maps.

(Also see: Vatican unveils Google Maps tour of restored catacombs)

The search giant said it intends to keep adding pictures to the digital time capsules as its photo-taking cars continue to cruise the same streets gathering updates.

Written with agency inputs