World Cup 2014: Brazil still facing issues with 100 days to go
The Arena de São Paulo will not be delivered until mid-May leaving Fifa with a race against time for the required fitting. Photograph: Nelson Antoine/AP
In 100 days, Brazil will kick off the World Cup against Croatia in the gleaming new Arena
de São Paulo. Assuming, that is, the stadium is finished in time.
Amid growing excitement at the World Cup returning to the home of La Joga Bonito, there
is concern at the extent to which deadlines have been repeatedly missed before being torn up
[5] altogether. "I am not a World Cup specialist but I will say this has not been easy, for sure. I think
things will work well but it is also true that whenever you receive something late it becomes a
challenge to make it ready in time." said the Fifa secretary general, Jérôme Valcke.
Stadiums
The biggest outstanding concern remains the readiness of four of the 12 stadiums that are
[10] scattered throughout the vast country. Despite being awarded the World Cup in 2007, host cities
were not decided until two years later amid political wrangling.
A series of delays followed, as Valcke and other Fifa executives attempted to hurry things
along.
Tickets
[15] Despite initial concern about ticket prices, there has been great interest from Brazil's
burgeoning middle class and from around the world. While England fans will find it easier than in
the past to get hold of tickets, given the expense and long distances involved, Fifa has already sold
more than 2.3 million of the 3.3 million available tickets. Around 60% of the 1.5m on general sale have gone to Brazilians.
[20] The next tranche of around 160,000 tickets go on sale on 12 March. Fifa has sought to
assuage some of the concern about high prices by reserving a greater number of the cheapest
category for Brazilians, but that is unlikely to completely temper criticism.
Security
Although airing a wide range of grievances, the perceived disconnect between the $4bn
[25] (£2.4bn) spent on World Cup stadiums and underinvestment in public services became a focal point
for anger. It has not dissipated, though no one seems able to accurately predict what will happen in
June. Many Brazilians are at once looking forward to the World Cup while remaining fiercely
critical of the demands of Fifa and the priorities of the authorities.
As part of a total security spend of £500m, 150,000 members of the police and armed forces
[30] will enforce large exclusion zones around stadiums and contain any protests elsewhere.
"There is a long way to go. It's a short way to go if there are still problems," said Blatter, in
typically obtuse fashion. "But now all problems are under control and it will be, in 100 days, an
exceptionally good start for an exceptional competition. The Brazilian spirit of the game and their
ability to play football makes this World Cup very, very special."
Adapted from a post by Owen Gibson
Disponível em: < http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/mar/04/world-cup-2014-brazil-stadiums>. Acesso em 03/04/2014.
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