To Stop Traffic Nightmare, Rio Declares 3 World Cup Holidays

For many soccer fans, the World Cup might as well be a month-long holiday. But for Rio de Janeiro's 6 million citizens, three days of the global soccer tournament Brazil will host this summer are now official public holidays.

Rio's municipal government this week declared public holidays during the tournament on June 18, June 25 and July 4. June 18 marks defending champion Spain's group match against Chile, June 25 is 1998 champ France's match against Ecuador and July 4 is the date of a to-be-determined quarterfinal matchup

All three matches will take place at Rio's legendary Maracana Stadium