FIFA steps up World Cup stadium pressure

Rio de Janeiro, Feb 22: World football’s governing body FIFA has stepped up pressure on Brazil’s World Cup organisers, warning a “lot of work” must be done for stadiums to be ready on time.

Speaking after a board meeting of the tournament’s local organising committee, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke urged against complacency ahead of the June 12-July 13 event, reports Xinhua.

“We are far beyond the normal speed limit you can have on the road and this will be the case until June,” Valcke said.

“We are working at full speed.”

Only eight of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadiums have officially opened despite a December 2013 construction deadline imposed by FIFA.

Stadiums still under development are Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, the Itaquerao in Sao Paulo, Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba and Arena da Amazonia in Manaus.