Brazil’s World Cup stadium – Arena Pantanal – will officially open officially on April 2, about two months before the first match of FIFA World Cup takes place.
The venue’s inauguration will feature the first-round Copa do Brasil fixture between Mixto and Santos, Xinhua quoted officials as saying. Workers are currently working on seats and two 76m2 high-resolution LED screens behind the goal posts.
"This facility will be a legacy for Mato Grosso (state), hosting sporting and cultural events like concerts," Mato Grosso’s World Cup secretary Mauricio Guimaraes said.
The Arena Pantanal, in Brazil’s western city of Cuiaba, will host four World Cup group phase matches: Chile-Australia, Russia-South Korea, Nigeria-Bosnia and Japan-Colombia.
Monday’s announcement came amid ongoing concern about Brazil’s unfinished World Cup stadiums.
Five of the tournament’s 12 host venues are yet to be ready despite a December 2013 deadline imposed by world football’s governing body FIFA.
Last month FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke warned Curitiba’s Arena da Baixada stadium risked being struck off the World Cup schedule due to severe construction delays.
FIFA will make a final decision regarding the stadium on February 18, said officials. (IANS)
Labels: Fifa World Cup 2014 Schedule, World Cup 2014