03.03.2014 02:03 h

Football: With 100 days to go, Cup stadium delays persist

Brazil's 12 World Cup stadiums were supposed to be ready by December 31. But with half of them not ready world football body FIFA dropped the deadline and by the end of February three were still struggling to be ready on time.

CURITIBA:

FIFA confirmed the city's Arena da Baixada on February 18 after threatening to pull the venue from the list. The game's governing body now expects the stadium to be ready a month before kickoff.

The number of construction workers has been boosted from 980 to 1,380; work on the roof and access to the dressing rooms is being finished off, 15,000 seats are now in position the 43,000-capacity ground.

- Progress: 90 percent complete by end February

- Estimated inauguration date: May 15

- Capacity: 43,000

- Cost: 320 million reais ($130 million at current exchange rate)

- Match schedule: Nigeria v Iran (June 16, Group F), Ecuador v Honduras (June 20, Group E), Spain v Australia (June 23, Group B), Algeria v Russia (June 23, Group H)

SAO PAULO:

The Corinthians Arena was all but complete when a crane fell on part of the stands and killed two construction workers in late November, meaning delivery has been put back to mid-April.

- Progress: 97 percent complete by end January

- Estimated inauguration date: April 15

- Capacity: 69,160

- Cost: 820 million reais ($340 million)

- Match schedule: Brazil v Croatia (June 12, Group A), Uruguay v England (June 19, Group D), Holland v Chile (June 23, Group B), Belgium v South Korea (June 26, Group H), last 16 match (July 1, Group F winner v Group E runner-up), semi-final (July 9).

CUIABA:

Work at the Arena Pantanal was due to be finished by the end of October 3, but work continues on the floodlighting po, the seats and the roof cover. The pitch has been laid.

- Progress: 95 percent complete by end February

- Estimated inauguration date: mid-March

- Capacity: 44,000

- Cost: 570 million reais ($238 million)

- Match schedule: Chile v Australia (June 13, Group B), Russia v South Korea (June 17, Group H), Bosnia Herzegovina v Nigeria (June 21, Group F), Colombia v Japan (June 24, Group C).

MANAUS:

The Amazonia Arena, which will notably host a group phase match between former champions Italy and England, is finished and March 9 will see its inauguration with a first test event before a 20,000 crowd.

- Progress: Finished

- Estimated inauguration date: March 9

- Capacity: 44,000 (40,000 during the World Cup)

- Cost: 670 million reais ($279 million)

- Match schedule: England v Italy (June 14, Group D), Croatia v Cameroon (June 18, Group A), Portugal v United States (June 22, Group G), Switzerland v Honduras (June 25, Group E)

PORTO ALEGRE:

Renovation of the Beira-Rio stadium, home to Internacional, is 97 percent complete. President Dilma Rousseff has already hosted a symbolic inauguration and a first test event before a 10,000 crowd already been held, though urban works in the vicinity have to be completed.

- Progress: 97 percent complete at end February

- Estimated official inauguration date: April 6 with friendly between Inter and Penarol

- Capacity: 49,989

- Cost: 330 million reais ($137.5 million)

- Match schedule: France v Honduras (June 15, Group E), Holland v Australia (June 18, Group B), Algeria v South Korea (June 22, Group H), Argentina v Nigeria (June 25, Group F)

NATAL:

The Dunas Arena Dunas was inaugurated by President Dilma Rousseff and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke on January 22 and held a test event a month later.

- Progress: Finished

- Inauguration date: January 22

- Capacity: 42,000 during the World Cup; 32,000 thereafter

- Cost: 400 million reais ($166.6 million)

- Match schedule: Mexico v Cameroon (June 13, Group A), Ghana v United States (June 16, Group G), Greece v Japan (June 19, Group C), Uruguay v Italy (June 24, Group D)

RIO DE JANEIRO:

After being shut for almost three years for a thorough overhaul Rio's iconic Maracana reopened in time for last June's Confederations Cup. it will host seven World Cup matches, including the July 13 final. The stadium also hosted the 1950 final, which Brazil lost to Uruguay.

- Progress: Finished

- Inauguration date: June 2, 2013

- Capacity: 78,838

- Cost: 1.403 billion reais ($584 million)

- Match schedule: Argentina v Bosnia Herzegovina (June 15, Group F), Spain v Chile (June 18, Group B), Belgium v Russia (June 22, Group H), Ecuador v France (June 25, Group E), last 16 match (June 28, Group C winners v Group D runners-up), quarter-final (July 4), final (July 13).

BRASILIA:

The Mané Garrincha national stadium was inaugurated at last year's Confederations Cup. Initial problems with the pitch have been dealt with though a leaky roof caused further embarrassment in december.

- Progress: Finished

- Inauguration date: May 18, 2013

- Capacity: 72,000

- Cost: 1.403 billion ($584 million)

- Match schedule: Switzerland v Ecuador (June 15, Group E), Colombia v Ivory Coast (June 19, Group C), Brazil v Cameroon (June 23, Group A), Portugal v Ghana (June 26, Group G), last 16 match (June 30, winner Group E v runner-up Group F), quarter-final (July 5), 3rd place playoff (July 12).

BELO HORIZONTE:

The Mineirao stadium, spent three years being refurbished then hosted last year's Copa Libertadores final won by local side Atletico Mineiro with 2002 world champion Ronaldinho in the side.

- Progress: Finished

- Inauguration date: December 21, 2012

- Capacity: 62,160

- Cost: 695 million reais ($290 million)

- Match scheduLe: Colombia v Greece (June 21, Group C), Belgium v Algeria (June 17, Group H), Argentina v Iran (June 21, Group F), Costa Rica v England (June 24, Group D), last 16 match (June 28, Group A winners v runners-up Group B,) semi-final (July 8).

FORTALEZA:

The Castelao stadium was the first one of the 12 to be completed in December 2012

- Progress: Finished

- Inauguration date: December 16, 2012

- Capacity: 63,903

- Cost: 518.6 million reaIs ($216 million)

- Match schedule: Uruguay v Costa Rica (June 14, Group D), Brazil v Mexico (June 17, Group A), Germany v Ghana (June 21, Group G), Greece v Ivory Coast (June 24, Group C), last 16 match (June 29, Group B winners v Group A runners-up, quarter-final (July 4).

RECIFE:

The Arena Pernambuco was constructed on the outskirts of northeastern coastal city Recife in time for the Confederations Cup and will host five World Cup games.

- Progress: Finished

- Inauguration date: April 14, 2013

- Capacity: 46,000

- Cost: 532.6 million reais ($222 million)

- Match schedule: Ivory Coast v Japan (June 14/6, Group C), Costa Rica v Italy (June 20, Group D), Croatia v Mexico (June 23, Group A), Germany v United States (June 26, Group G), last 16 match (June 29 - Group D winners v runners-up Group C).

SALVADOR:

The Fonte Nova Arena will host six matches.

- Progress: Finished

- Inauguration date: April 5, 2013

- Capacity: 55,000

- Cost: 689.4 million reais ($287 million)

- Match schedule: Spain v Holland (June 13, Group B), Germany v Portugal (June 16, Group G), Switzerland v France (June 20, Group E), Bosnia Herzegovina v Iran (June 25, Group F), last 16 match (July 1 - Group H winners v runners-up Group G, quarter-final (July 5).