The 68 000-seater stadium, which is due to host the World Cup’s opening fixture between Brazil and Croatia on 12 June, was given to its owners Corinthians in an unfinished state by construction firm Odebrecht.

The stadium was supposed to have been completed in December, and while those in construction believe the venue will be ready in time for the world showpiece, various questions have been raised over the country’s preparedness to host the event, with less than two month to kick-off.

Corinthians president Mario Gobbi, whose club will use the stadium after the World Cup, conceded that construction on the stadium is well off schedule.

 “[There] is still a way to go and we need to work together,” he told Reuters.

This set-back is the latest of concerning news emanating from Sao Paolo, where a worker died last month while working on the stadium. He was the seventh fatality in Brazil’s preparations for the global event.

The Arena de Sao Paolo is scheduled to host six matches during this year’s World Cup, including a semi-final.