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Corinthians\'s and Figueirense players battle it out during a Brazilian soccer league match at the Itaquerao, the still unfinished stadium that will host the World Cup opener match between Brazil and Croatia on June 12, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, May 18, 2014. Only 40,000 tickets were put on sale for Corinthians\' match against Figueirense because some of the 20,000 temporary seats needed for the World Cup opener are still being installed. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

FIFA postpones final test event for World Cup opener after concerns from local authorities

SAO PAULO – Uncertainty about Brazil’s readiness for the World Cup opener will linger a little longer after FIFA and local organizers postponed the final test event at the troubled Sao Paulo stadium because of concerns from local authorities.

The Brazilian league match scheduled for May 29, a Thursday, was moved to the following Sunday to keep the event from disrupting the city’s “operational routine” on a working day.

FIFA says it also decided to re-schedule the match to a weekend to “ensure it attracts more than 50,000” fans needed to properly test the stadium.

Fewer than 40,000 people attended the first test match at the Itaquerao stadium last weekend, when the 20,000 temporary seats being added for the opener couldn’t be used. Nearly 70,000 people are expected for the Brazil-Croatia match.

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