2014 W.Cup: Brazil Increases Construction Tempo Ahead Of Deadline

Brazil has to speed up the construction of World Cup stadiums when several are still under construction or refurbishment as the largest football tournament is less than a year to go.

There are 12 stadiums for next year’s World Cup. As the arena for the final match and closing ceremony, Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium has been unveiled during the FIFA Confederations Cup in June. But six stadiums are still under construction or renovation, including the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, which will host the opening match.

FIFA mulled to replace the Arena Corinthians in May due to slow construction progress, but Brazil convinced the football governing body to keep the stadium to host the opening match. FIFA required that the stadium must be delivered by the end of the year. However, Brazilian residents divided whether the stadium can be completed on time.

Apart from the Arena Corinthians, the construction progress of which is 86 per cent, other five stadiums in the host cities of Manaus, Curitiba, Cuiaba, Porto Alegre and Natal are also under construction. Latest statistics show that the arenas in Manaus, Porto Alegre and Curitiba are slowest in construction progress – only 76 per cent.

Brazil’s Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said he is worried about the construction progress of some stadiums and stressed the government will not increase budget.