World Cup will be ready, says Fifa
Fifa has reiterated that the 2014 World Cup is right on schedule despite continued construction work in some of the stadiums in Brazil ahead of the June 12 2014 kick-off.
Alain Leiblang, the world football governing body’s head of media operations for the Fifa World Cup, said this in his presentation to sports media at the ongoing 77th International Sports Press Association (Aips) congress in Azerbajain capital, Baku.
“The World Cup will happen in 12 cities and venues even when Brazilian colleagues are still working. Of course, there will be some works until the start of the tournament,” Leiblang told the congress at JW Marriott Hotel.
The World Cup has been marred by concerns about stadium construction falling behind schedule amid strikes and reports of death of construction workers and some construction sites collapsing.
“Even when there is something said to the contrary that there is a strike here and there, by May 25 2014 Fifa will receive the stadiums. That is three weeks before the start of the tournament,” Leiblang said.
Africa will be represented at the World Cup by reigning continental kings Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroun, Ghana and Algeria. Nigeria beat Malawi 3-1 on aggregate over two legs then Ethiopia to seal World Cup qualification.
Fifa has accredited 16 000 media personnel drawn from across the world to cover the event with 3 500 being from the written press. Each of the 12 venues has a media centre.
