Brazil to use facial recognition at Copa America

Brazil will use facial recognition technology to reinforce security during the Copa America in June and July, tournament officials said on Thursday.

One of the venues - the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador - already has a system in place, having successfully trialled the initiative during the city's annual carnival celebrations in March.

"We are going to be able to restrict the access of unwanted people (to stadiums)," Copa America security coordinator Hilario Medeiros said.

He added that security forces would cooperate with Interpol and international law enforcement agencies to build a database of people that will "at least be observed".

The system will allow a vast network of cameras installed in and around stadiums to transmit real-time images to an integrated control center, where operators will be able to cross-conference information with a police database.

Alerts will be sent from the control room to patrol units when necessary, Medeiros said.

The Copa America will be played in five Brazilian cities from June 14 to July 7. In addition to Salvador, fixtures will be played in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Port Alegre.