Valcke praises Maracanã and says he's excited for the World Cup.
For FIFA's Secretary General, the reopening of the Rio stadium with the friendly match between Brazil and England last Sunday was a "very special moment".
World Cup Portal - In his column published on FIFA's website, the organization's Secretary General, Jérôme Valcke, said he was impressed with the first official match at the new Maracanã. For Valcke, seeing an international classic in the fully operational "temple of sport" was a "very special moment".
"It was fantastic to meet a man like the four-time world champion Mário Zagallo, who helped remove the scaffolding from the old Maracanã before the 1950 FIFA World Cup and who is now so happy and excited to see the new stadium," said Valcke. Now 81 years old, Zagallo won the World Cup twice as a player, in 1958 and 1962, once as a coach, in 1970, and once as an assistant coach, in 1994.
In addition to praising the Maracanã, Valcke said he is excited for the start of the Confederations Cup. "I am very pleased to see true football stadiums, modern and functional, ready to host some of the best national teams in the world at the Festival of Champions. We are definitely on the right track for the opening matches of the competition, in 12 days in Brasília and on June 16th at the Maracanã," he said, noting that ticket sales have resumed on the FIFA website and also at the ticket distribution centers.
Finally, Valcke reminded everyone that, in addition to the Confederations Cup, there will be World Cup 2014 qualifying matches in June.
Source: FIFA