COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil: The Sao Paulo stadium damaged when a crane collapsed on its roof last week killing two construction workers will be ready to stage the opening match of next year’s World Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Tuesday.
Blatter, speaking at a news conference following a meeting of the World Cup organizing committee, said: “The problems we now face regarding the stadiums are so small we can close our eyes.
“But there is one sad fact and we deplore the loss of the two people who lost their lives last week and we are feeling sad with the families, but the stadium will be ready for the opening match.” Brazil are due to kick off the World Cup at the Sao Paulo stadium against opponents who will be known after Friday’s draw.
FIFA names World Cup draw pots
Meantime, FIFA on Tuesday announced the following pots to be used for Friday’s draw for next year’s World Cup finals when the 32 teams will be placed into eight first-round groups of four.
Pot 1 consists of the eight top seeds, one of each to be drawn in Groups A-H. The remaining pots are based on geographical criteria.
Hosts Brazil will be allocated position A1 in the draw and will play the opening match in Sao Paulo on June 12.
Pot 1 (top eight seeds): Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Switzerland, Uruguay
Pot 2: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador
Pot 3: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras
Pot 4: Bosnia, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, France
Note: A pre-draw will be held to move one of the nine European teams into Pot 2. That European team will then be drawn against one of the four seeded South American teams to preserve the geographical balance of the draw.
