By Andrew Warshaw
March 12 – Local officials insist that Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium, still worrying FIFA more than any other venue in the run-up to the Confederations Cup in June, will be ready to stage a test event next month.
The modernisation of the famous arena has been plagued by delays ahead of the tournament, the traditional dress rehearsal for the World Cup at which the Maracana is due to stage seven games including the final.
“We know we do not have an easy schedule but the Maracana will be ready to stage test events as of April 27,” Regis Fichtner, chief of staff of the Rio state government which owns the Maracana, was quoted as saying.
“In total we will organise two closed and one major public test events ahead of the Confederations Cup to make sure all operational aspects at the renovated stadium will have undergone detailed testing,” he added.
Rebuilding work on the stadium, built for the 1950 World Cup, started in 2010 and Fichtner was speaking after the latest meeting between FIFA, the local organising committee, the Brazilian federal government and local authorities.
Highlight of the pre-Confederations Cup schedule is a prestige friendly between Brazil and England on June 2, due to be the first match after the $458m redevelopment and coming two weeks before the Confederations Cup clash between Mexico and Italy.
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