Xinhua News Agency, Rio de Janeiro, March 7th - On March 7th, a FIFA inspection team consisting of professional managers visited the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre to tour and evaluate the stadium that will host matches for the 2014 World Cup. The Brazilian side assured that after an eight-month halt in construction, renovation work on the stadium will resume next week.
Carril, head of the sports department of Rio Grande do Sul, said: "We (to FIFA) introduced all infrastructure construction situations, and we guarantee that the stadium renovation work within our region will resume next week."
This time, FIFA sent out a 40-person inspection team that will spend six days evaluating six of the 12 cities hosting matches for the Brazil World Cup. These six cities are São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Cuiabá, Manaus, and Natal.
Recently, FIFA has constantly complained about the slow progress of preparations for the Brazil World Cup, which has sparked quite a bit of verbal sparring.
Due to dissatisfaction with the preparations for the 2014 World Cup, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke recently criticized the Brazil World Cup Organizing Committee, even bluntly stating that Brazil should kick itself in the ass. This angered the Brazilian side, who sent a letter to FIFA saying they would no longer welcome Valcke. Under pressure, Valcke officially apologized on the 5th.