Jerome Valcke increases pressure on Brazil’s World Cup organisers

The FIFA secretary-general will visit three incomplete World Cup stadia this week as he looks to give the host nation one final nudge with the tournament now weeks away. Jerome Valcke is scheduled to inspect São Paulo’s Itaquerão stadium Tuesday followed by Arena da Baixada in Curitiba and Cuiabá’s Arena Pantanal Wednesday, reports Xinhua. It […]
by
sambafoot_admin
2014-04-22 17:40:00

The FIFA secretary-general will visit three incomplete World Cup stadia this week as he looks to give the host nation one final nudge with the tournament now weeks away.

Jerome Valcke is scheduled to inspect São Paulo’s Itaquerão stadium Tuesday followed by Arena da Baixada in Curitiba and Cuiabá’s Arena Pantanal Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

It is understood local officials have been told the venues in São Paulo, Curitiba and Cuiabá must be ready by May 15 – a month before football’s showpiece event begins.

FIFA originally set a December 2012 deadline for the country’s 12 World Cup stadiums to be ready but preparations in many host cities have been plagued by delays.

Valcke’s visit to Brazil is expected to be his final one before returning at the end of May and remaining for the duration of the tournament.