Brazil 2014: Jérôme Valcke (FIFA) mentions the possible exclusion of "very delayed" Curitiba stadium

"To be very honest, the situation as it stands is not ideal. The stadium is very delayed and well outside the delivery schedule," said Jérôme Valcke, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) general secretary, on the 21/01/2014 about Curitiba stadium, which must host four of the 64 matches of the XX World Cup, held from the 12/06 to the 13/07/2014 in Brazil.

"If you don't have a stadium you can't have games. It is an emergency situation," added FIFA general secretary during his inspection tour in Brazil, hoping rapid progress so "that Curitiba would not miss out on hosting matches."

"All our efforts are focused on taking the measures that will guarantee the Parana stadium is in the 2014 World Cup," said Aldo Rebelo, Brazilian Sports Minister.

The Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, is one of 12 host stadiums for the World Cup. It was supposed to be ready in December 2012. Less than 90% of the renovation work is completed, on the 21/01/2014 Cost: € 82m, or twice the original budget.

• "It's not that we wanted to see the stadium ready for the 18/02/2014 (date of the next tour)…