The legendary Brazil forward, who is now a federal Congressman for the Socialist Party, has been a vocal critic of both the local organising committee and FIFA. Speaking in an interview with the magazine Istoe, which was published on Wednesday, Romario said: “I think that (Brazil) won’t be 100% ready. Of the 12 stadiums (that are to stage World Cup events) maybe 10 will be ready. As to work on public transportation, none of the cities involved will be able to complete it fully.”
Romario’s latest comments come after Brazil’s Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo played down concerns over the country’s preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup late last year, stating that the tournament could be staged in two months’ time if necessary. Rebelo had said that the Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre is the only stadium out of the 12 set to host the World Cup that has fallen behind schedule. Meanwhile, Rebelo maintained Brazil’s wider infrastructure will be able to cope with the World Cup, citing the huge mobilisation of people during carnival season as an example of its major event prowess. “People might think that I’m exaggerating, but my impression is that if Brazil had to organise the World Cup in two months’ time, we would be ready,” Rebelo had told the government-run NBR channel. “We can do everything which is planned for the World Cup.”
Romario added that the total cost of staging the World Cup could rise from an estimated US$44 billion to $55.5 billion. The 46-year-old held World Cup talks with FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Zurich on Tuesday. Blatter tweeted on Wednesday: “Very good meeting with Romario about the 2014 FIFA World Cup. We are moving in the right direction.”
