The Arena Corinthians that will host the opening game of the 2014 World Cup will not stage a test match in front of a full house before the World Cup starts June 12 because construction stillunderway.
The stadium was built to hold 48,000 and another 20,000 temporary seats are being added for the World Cup. But 18,000 seats will be left empty for the test event featuringCorinthians and Figueirense in late May. “The crowd (for the test game), under an agreement between Corinthians and LOC (Local Organising Committee) and FIFA, will be 50,000 people,” Sao Paulo’sdeputy mayor Nadia Campeao told reporters.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said, “It is not a big deal. Two-thirds of the capacity is good.”
Huge areassurrounding the ground are still covered in dust and rubble. A bus terminal under construction between the stadium and the nearest train station will be not be completed and a walkway from the metrois also in danger of not being ready.