SÃO PAULO (BDCi) – Despite seven years of construction and with the 2014 World Cup less than a month away, Brazil has yet to completely finish all the preparations for the soccer tournament.
Several stadiums in the 12 host cities are still undergoing construction and not all infrastructure work will be finished by June 12, the first day of the World Cup.
Nonetheless, officials in Brazil guarantee that everything will turn out fine.
FIFA is still unconvinced; the international governing body of soccer had expected all venue preparations to be completed by the end of 2013.
The Itaquerão stadium, set to host the opening match between Brazil and Croatia, is still having temporary seats installed.
The Arena da Baixada in Curitiba remains unfinished, though its first full test event is scheduled for next week.
There are also concerns about the temporary structures at the Porto Alegre stadium of Beira-Ro.
And a worker was electrocuted while working at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba (pictured above), marking the eighth worker killed during preparations for the Brazil World Cup. The stadium is also incomplete.
Part of Brazil’s struggle stems from the host nation having insisted on 12 cities instead of eight, FIFA’s preferred number.
While the total cost is expected to be almost $12 billion, the Brazilian government maintains that the long-term return on the event could be as much as $180 billion.
In addition to the stadiums’ status, several airports remain unfinished and there is a widespread concern about locals violently protesting the billions spent on the tournament.
By: Diego Díaz Source: AP Photo: The Guardian 13 May 2014
9:15 a.m. P.D.T.