Jerome Valcke, the Secretary General of FIFA, expressed his dissatisfaction during an evaluation visit to Brazil, particularly regarding the progress of renovation work on the Arena da Baixada stadium in Parana, which is slated to host football matches in the upcoming World Cup. Valcke did not hold back in his critique, even issuing a warning that the stadium might be excluded from the list of venues for the competition.
In a press conference, the Frenchman emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We cannot organize a match without a stadium; it is an emergency situation so that Curitiba does not find itself excluded from the Cup.” Valcke went on to bluntly express his displeasure with the current state of the stadium, highlighting both the delay in construction and the lack of adherence to FIFA’s submission schedule.
Valcke clarified that while the aim is not to have the stadium ready by a specific date, there is an expectation to see significant progress during the next evaluation visit. He mentioned ongoing discussions with the state government and the Curitiba City Hall, expressing hope that these conversations would yield positive results to prevent the city from being excluded from the World Cup.
The Joaquim Américo Guimarães Stadium, commonly known as Arena da Baixada, holds significance as the chosen venue, but its readiness has become a pressing concern that FIFA is closely monitoring.
