By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – England could be invited to play a friendly in Brazil to mark the opening of the new Mineirão 2014 World Cup stadium in Belo Horizonte, insideworldfootball has learned.
The 65,000-capacity state-of-the-art stadium (pictured above), due to stage six World Cup games and three at next year’s Confederations Cup, is due to be completed in December.
England were involved in one of the greatest World Cup upsets when they were beaten 1-0 by the United States in the 1950 finals at Belo Horizonte’s Independência Stadium, which has been demolished and is currently under reconstruction.
Although no official discussions have yet taken place, it is understood an invitation to the English Football Association could be part of the city’s World Cup promotional package.
“There is nothing formal in place but our city has many links with England,” Flávia Rohlfs, executive coordinator on Belo Horizonte’s 2014 World Cup Committee, told insideworldfootball.
“It’s an idea I’d really like to work strongly on.
“There is an intention and desire.
“It would be a great opportunity.”
Rohlfs and her colleagues have just spent a week in Poland at the 2012 European Championship promoting the city as a World Cup venue and gleaning as much information as possible about how to organise a major football tournament.
Belo Horizonte (pictured above) may not be among the best-known Brazilian venues but it is certainly one of the most advanced, with training facilities the local authorities believe are second to none and which have already been visited by a number of national associations keen to use the area as a base during the World Cup.
“A lot of the other cities are using the Olympic Games in London to promote themselves but we thought we’d do it differently in terms of seeing what happens at a big football tournament,” Rohlfs said.
“That’s why we went to Euro 2012.
“We think we will be one of the best prepared cities.”
She understands how cities like Rio are far more attractive to first-time visitors but argues Belo Horizonte will provide the best possible climate – not least for the teams involved who, unlike in past World Cups, are being pushed around from region to region in the group stage.
“We are a young city and are not yet on the world map but this is a big opportunity to change that,” Rohlfs added.
“Our weather is perfect around that time of year.
“It’s about 20 degrees, no rain and blue skies every day.
“In other words, perfect for football.”
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