FIFA warns Brazil host city to complete work to prevent exclusion from 2014 World Cup

World football governing body FIFA has reportedly warned Brazil that Curitiba, one of the host cities for the 2014 World Cup, may be excluded from the roster if work does not speed up at a privately-owned stadium there.

Less than five months before the tournament kicks off, six out of 12 venues are still unfinished, while four matches are due to be played at the 42,000-capacity Curitiba stadium: Spain-Australia, Honduras-Ecuador, Iran-Nigeria and Algeria-Russia.

According to the BBC, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said that work at the Arena da Baixada stadium was seriously behind schedule, adding that they will take a decision on whether Curitiba, in southern Brazil, will remain as a host city for the tournament.

Describing the situation at Arena da Baixada as 'delicate' and 'very complicated', Valcke also said that they do not like the current state of the stadium as the work is delayed and way behind schedule.

The report mentioned that the stadium is privately owned and belongs to one of the city's main football clubs, Atletico Paranaense, but a substantial part of the renovation cost is being financed by public money.

The World Cup will begin on 12 June with the opening match scheduled to be played at Sao Paulo, the report added.