Tag: Porto Alegre

Three World Cup Stadiums Yet Unfinished

Mar 22, 2014

FIFA is starting a new round of inspections at World Cup stadiums in Brazil. With kick-off less than three months away, host cities are in a race against time to be ready for the tournament.
Operational inspections in six stadiums began Thursday and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke is expected in Rio de Janeiro next week for a series of meetings to discuss preparations.

Technical teams from football’s governing body and the local organising committee visited the Itaquerão Stadium in São Paulo on Thursday and will move on to Porto Alegre, Manaus, Natal, Cuiabá and Curitiba in the coming days.

“This inspection tour will be fundamental to consolidate operational plans and for each area to confirm the operations they have planned over the last few years,” said Tiago Pães, the operations manager for stadiums at the local organizing committee.

FIFA already knows that at least two stadiums won’t be ready until about a month before the tournament starts. The Itaquerão Stadium in São Paulo will be completed in mid-May, along with the Arena da Baixada in the southern city of Curitiba.

Cuiabá also doesn’t have its stadium ready, with concern over whether there will be enough time to install the temporary structures needed for technical teams, sponsors and media.

“This is the last occasion for the organizers to take stock of the operational preparations before the respective FIFA World Cup installations begin to be implemented in all 12 host cities,” FIFA said Thursday in a statement

Iran’s World Cup first match venue in doubt

February 17, 2014

 Curitiba could be dropped as a World Cup host amid construction delays, although FIFA tells INSIDER a final decision has not yet been made.

Brazilian media reports suggest Arena de Baixada will be axed as one of the 12 host cities for the month-long summer tournament. It is scheduled to host Iran-Nigeria on June 16, Spain v Australia on June 23, Algeria-Russia on June 26 and Honduras-Ecuador on June 30.

World Cup organisers in the southern Brazilian city say they have met FIFA requirements to guarantee the delayed stadium will be completed in time. Lack of finances has impacted construction.

FIFA gave local organisers until Feb. 18 to demonstrate that the pace of construction would be accelerated on the stadium project. It would still not be finished for another two months.

FIFA told INSIDER today: “As we explained many times a decision on Curitiba will only be made on 18 February based on a report from the technical stadium experts. This is a fact, the rest is pure speculation.”

Yesterday FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke tweeted a similar comment on his Twitter page.

In his Friday column on FIFA.com, he said the situation in Curitiba was being closely monitored. “The Brazilian Government, the host city and state of Parana, FIFA and the LOC are seeking and finding solutions to help them catch up and hopefully make sure such a special city in terms of sustainability and passion for football will remain part of the FIFA World Cup line-up,” he said.
Valcke returned to Brazil on Sunday for visits to three World Cup host cities this week.

On visiting Manaus, he tweeted: “Arena Amazonia is an amazing project. We can only congratulate Manaus for what they have achieved in the past year.”

He is also checking up on World Cup preparations in Brasilia, where seven FIFA World Cup matches will be played, and Porto Alegre.

During his host city tour, the Frenchman will also meet with officials from the 32 World Cup teams in Florianopolis for a team workshop.

It’s billed as the last major milestone event in Brazil before the FIFA Congress on June 10 and 11 in Sao Paulo. The World Cup kicks off in Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12.

On Friday, Valcke will attend an LOC board meeting in Florianopolis.