Football: Blatter wants 2014 opener at Maracana

RIO DE JANEIRO: Fifa President Sepp Blatter has called for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup to be played at Brazil's most famous football stadium the Maracana in Rio. "For the world, Rio is the most attractive city to open the World Cup without any doubt. Given that the press centre and the Fifa organisation will be based here, it seems that this town is the most suitable for staging the opening match." The official announcement on where the first match will be played will be made in October. Blatter also lashed out at Brazilian politicians for complicating the organisation of the tournament.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2011.