Sao Paulo to be ready at last minute: FIFA

SAO PAULO, Apr 23 (AFP): FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke Tuesday said Sao Paulo's delayed stadium would be ready "at the last minute" for the June 12 World Cup curtain-raiser after a full capacity test next month.

The stadium has suffered delays following two fatal accidents which left three workers dead, but Valcke said he was confident preparations were advancing well.

"Sao Paulo will be ready for the opening match," between Brazil and Croatia," said Valcke, adding there was "no choice" while repeating his mantra that "we cannot waste a single minute."

Valcke told reporters: "We are running against time, but yes, the stadium will host the opening game and, yes, we will organise the opening game and all the other games in this stadium.

He had earlier tweeted: "(The) next important event for us will be on 17 or 18 May when the first official test with full capacity will take place at Arena de São Paulo," Valcke tweeted.

With FIFA normally wanting three tests at venues Valcke indicated that Sao Paulo therefore faced "a very tight schedule" through to the June 12 kick-off.

He insisted he was "happy with progress" as "TV area & IT installations (are) taking shape, accreditation & volunteer centres open in 3 weeks."

FIFA set an initial deadline of December 31 for all 12 venues to be ready.

Sao Paulo was then put back to January 15 but delays have continued to dog the project.