Sao Paulo World Cup hopes boosted by new stadium approval

By Andrew Warshaw

July 15 – One of the most embarrassing episodes hindering progress for the 2014 World Cup has moved a step closer to being resolved after Sao Paulo’s chances of hosting the opening game were given a major boost following the approval of a funding package for a new 65,000-seater stadium for local club Corinthians.

For months, FIFA has been concerned that Brazil’s largest city could be stripped as a host venue because of a lack of suitable stadium, a situation underlined last month at the Inside World Football Forum in Moscow by FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke.

But it now appears a new stadium will be built by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht at a cost of around $500 million (£310 million) after Brazil’s national development bank, BNDES, and local authorities jointly pledged funding.

FIFA have now accepted the financial guarantees, a pre-requisite for hosting World Cup games.

Sao Paulo is up against Salvador and Belo Horizonte for the right to stage the Opening Ceremony.

But being selected as a host city is by no means a done deal because whatever happens, Sao Paulo’s new stadium will not be ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, the traditional testing ground for the World Cup.

And Brasilia, the capital, has made it clear they want to stage the opening match.

FIFA will announce both decisions in October.

Originally, FIFA were due to hold a press conference on the eve of the July 30 preliminary draw in Rio but that has now been brought forward 48 hours following the postponement of an Organising Committee meeting.

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