Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund was originally built for the 1974 World Cup finals and will again be a superb arena for the best tournament in the world
Borussia Dortmund fans regularly pack out the ground known as the Bundesliga’s Opera House, and in the 2004-05 season an average of 77,000 visited at every game, a Bundesliga and European record.
The famous South Stand houses a huge terrace area which Borussia fans pack into for Bundesliga games creating a cacophony of noise inside the ground for visiting fans to face.
Seats can be placed on the terraces for international matches and the capacity for the World Cup will be down to around 66,000 from their 82,000 league maximum.
Sweden kick off their World Cup finals campaign against Trinidad & Tobago in Dortmund, while hosts Germany will visit for their second Group A match against Poland.
Two other group games, including Brazil v Japan, will play in Dortmund, which will also host a last 16 game along with a semi-final.
Dortmund match schedule:
June 10: Group B - Trinidad & Tobago v Sweden
June 14: Group A - Germany v Poland
June 19: Group G - Togo v Switzerland
June 22: Group F - Japan v Brazil
June 27: Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E
July 4: Semi-final
Dortmund started their life at Weisse Wiese, which is now an open air swimming pool right next to the ground. They then moved the short distance to the Stadion Rote Erde in 1937 - and this is now a running track which is situated right outside the new ground and is used for athletics meetings.
The Westfalenstadion was built in 1974 in time for Germany hosting the World Cup with an initial capacity of 54,000.
Several improvements have been made to the new Signal Iduna Park over the years, with the four stands joined up in the corners in 2001 to increase capacity to 67,000.
Dortmund’s ground is one of the most recognisable in Europe due to the eight huge bright yellow pylons that support the roof - ensuring that there are no obstructed views inside the stadium.
The 62-metre high pylons will easily guide visiting fans towards the ground for World Cup matches, where they will sit in comfort after the seats were upgraded in another modernisation stage.
Dortmund proved more than capable of hosting a game on the big stage when it provided a great accommodation for the 2001 Uefa Cup final, won in a thrilling contest by Liverpool against Alaves.
There will be more big games in the summer, and fans will be well catered for with the outdoor Fan Fest situated near the stadium to entertain them.
Dortmund will differ in their huge indoor Fan Hall inside the massive structure of the Westfalenhallen - an exhibition centre just across the road from the stadium.
Those without tickets can eat, drink and watch the matches inside the Westfalenhallen, which will also double as an indoor campsite for those to rest their weary heads after the long days and nights celebrating the World Cup.
Fans can reach the ground easily from the city centre via the light railway system which has a stop just outside the ground on routes U45 and U46.
Westfalenhalle station, which is being upgraded for the tournament, is on the main line from other cities in the region, and this is also ideally situated just minutes from the stadium.
