Brazilian media reports have also suggested two other World Cup stadiums - owned by football clubs Atletico Paranaense’s Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba, and Internacional’s Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre - could also face the axe for the same reason.
Sao Paulo FC wanted to undertake reduced refurbishment works at the cost of R$265m ($150m). Organising committee president Ricardo Teixeira, however, said it is “inadmissible to have a World Cup in Brazil without the presence of Sao Paulo” and that an alternative solution will be found.
Games at the 2014 World Cup are currently scheduled to take place in 11 other Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro, the Amazonian port city of Manaus, and capital Brasilia.
