The city's Municipal Government has also announced there will be half-day holidays on June 18 and 25 - when the Maracana stadium will again be hosting weekday games, Bloomberg reports.

The office of Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes reportedly said the decision was taken "to reduce the flow of vehicles, minimising possible inconvenience to the population, and speeding up the flow of fans to the Maracana stadium".

The June 18 group game will see Spain play Chile at 4pm local time, while the June 25 match involves Ecuador and France and is scheduled to kick-off at 5pm.

A quarter-final at the Maracana on July 4 at 1pm could involve France or Germany, if they win their respective groups.

The Maracana is hosting seven World Cup matches, including three on a weekday
©Getty Images



The other four matches being played at the Maracana during the World Cup will be at weekends.

Rio has invested money in improving its road network ahead of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It is possible other World Cup host cities will follow in Rio's footsteps, as parts of the country grapple with increased congestion.

The World Cup in Brazil kicks off on June 12, with Rio hosting the final on July 13.