The FIFA Secretary-General, Jérôme Valcke, is confident about the completion of construction works on the Itaquerão stadium, which will host the World Cup opening match next June in São Paulo.
“It still takes some work to be done on some parts that were damaged by [last year's] accident, but we can see that progress has been made,” he said Monday (Jan. 20) after an inspection visit to the stadium.
Valcke also showed excitement at the record-breaking 10 million ticket requests FIFA received. “It shows how attractive Brazil is to visitors,” he concluded.
The stadium is 97% complete, although still behind the original expected delivery date in December 2013. The works were delayed by a crane that collapsed in late November, damaging part of the structure and killing two workers. The new deadline is in the second half of April, when FIFA plans to start holding test events.
Translated by Mayra Borges
