Corinthians stadium under construction in Sao Paulo may host 2014 WCup opener

By The Associated Press (CP)

SAO PAULO — A stadium in Sao Paulo being built by Corinthians may host the opening game of the 2014 World Cup.
The Brazilian Football Confederation said in a statement released late Friday that its president Ricardo Teixeira, Sao Paulo state governor Alberto Goldman and Sao Paulo city mayor Gilberto Kassab discussed staging the opener at Corinthians' stadium.
The statement said Goldman and Kassab expressed their "willingness to provide all the support necessary to have the World Cup's opening game held in Sao Paulo."
Local media says Corinthians president Andres Sanchez is expected to make an official announcement next week during the commemorations of his team's 100th anniversary.
The new stadium has been designed with a 45,000-seat capacity, but Corinthians is extending it to 65,000 in order to comply with FIFA requirements. The new stadium is expected to be concluded by early 2013 at the latest.
Sao Paulo's huge Morumbi stadium was originally scheduled to host the opening game but was dropped from the World Cup because there were not enough financial guarantees for its renovation.