Valcke: "I can't imagine the World Cup without São Paulo"
However, FIFA's Secretary General is reinforcing the pressure on Corinthians to deliver the Itaquerão stadium on time; "There will be no World Cup without São Paulo. The World Cup will be played in 12 cities," said Jérôme Valcke, who visited the Maracanã construction site in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Vitor Abdala
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Rio de Janeiro – The Secretary-General of the International Federation of Football (FIFA), Jérôme Valcke, said this Wednesday (15) that he cannot imagine a World Cup without the participation of the city of São Paulo. In a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Valcke informed that he will have a meeting soon with representatives of Corinthians, the construction company Odebrecht and the Local Organizing Committee to discuss the completion of the works at the Itaquerão stadium, which will host the opening of the World Cup.
Despite the delays in construction, Valcke said he is confident that the stadium will be ready by the deadline set by FIFA: December of this year. "There will be no World Cup without São Paulo. The World Cup will be played in 12 cities," he said.
The Minister of Sport, Aldo Rebelo, said that the delay in the construction was caused by a change in the stadium's original design. The arena, conceived to have a capacity for 40 spectators, will have to be expanded, with a temporary grandstand, to host the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
Aldo Rebelo emphasized, however, that with more than 70% of the construction completed, the works are on schedule. "For a stadium that is due in December, this is a performance consistent with the schedule," said the minister.
Edited by: Juliana Andrade