Local Brazil officials confirm Maracanã will be ready next month

Local Brazil officials have confirmed that Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã stadium will be ready to stage a test event next month.

The rebuilding of the famous arena, which has been plagued by delays, is considered by FIFA to be the biggest headache in the run-up to the Confederations Cup in June.

However, Regis Fichtner, chief of staff of the Rio state government which owns the huge arena, has confirmed that the stadium will be ready to stage test events next month.

He said: "We know we do not have an easy schedule but the Maracana will be ready to stage test events as of April 27.

"In total we will organise two closed and one major public test events ahead of the Confederations Cup to make sure all operational aspects at the renovated stadium will have undergone detailed testing."

Fichtner, speaking after a meeting between FIFA, the local organising committee, the Brazilian federal government and local authorities, also said the events would include the friendly between Brazil and England on June 2.

The Maracanã will host seven matches at the World Cup next summer, including the final of the competition.

"We will continue working very hard together to achieve our clear and common joint goal: to deliver a perfect FIFA Confederations Cup," said Ricardo Trade, chief executive of the local organising committee.

Source: Yahoo