England's Second World Cup Match May Be Relocated as 88,000-Seat Stadium Faces Delays

A SECOND England World Cup stadium is under threat with less than five months to go before the start of the tournament.

SunSport explained how outside Boston.

The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is at risk of not being completed in time for the World CupCredit: Reuters The renovation project is delayed ahead of the tournamentCredit: AFP

are due to play their second group game at the home of the New England Patriots, while Scotland ’s first matches against Haiti and Morocco are also scheduled for Massachusetts.

But it has now emerged that there are major issues over Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium as well.

The tournament’s opening game between Mexico and South Africa is rostered to be played in the 88,000-capacity venue, while ’s side would play their last 16 game against the co-hosts in their own backyard if they win Group L and progress to that stage.

But major delays on a massive renovation project for the venue that hosted the Final in both 1970 and 1986 are causing significant worries for Fifa.

The three-stage process, with deadlines due this month, in March and then just before the start of the tournament, is already well behind schedule.

Stadium owner Emilio Azcarraga Jean has confirmed the full works are unlikely to be completed in time for the World Cup.

It means next month’s planned friendly between Mexico and Portugal is in doubt.

Azcarraga Jean admitted: “This first stage, which ends on March 28 with the reopening, is important.

England could be impacted should the venue be changedCredit: Getty

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“Then we’ll continue with the remaining work needed for the World Cup, and after that, because there are many things that, due to the complexity of the project, can’t be done.

“For example, the large parking lot outside the stadium, where we had to get rid of a lot of trash, we will have to do that after the World Cup.

“There was an issue with the lighting of the columns that wasn’t quite right, so that will be addressed later. It’s also about maintaining a consistent maintenance system, which I think was lacking in the past.”

Under World Cup regulations, Fifa will take over all 16 host venues at the start of May, while work on converting artificial surfaces to grass in a number of the NFL stadiums being used in the USA will start next month.

But there are growing fears in Mexico that Fifa may not be happy with the state of the Azteca, putting extra pressure on the co-hosts to ensure the necessary work is completed in time.

Given the stadium’s history – it was also the scene of against England in 1986 – the ultimate threat of stripping games would still appear distant.

But it is a further worry for Fifa, on the back of the issues confronting the Gillette Stadium.

As SunSport reported, City chiefs in Foxborough, situated 22 miles south west of Boston, remain at loggerheads with Fifa.

The 66,000-capacity venue is due to host seven matches but Fifa might be forced into a late swap because of a major cash row between world game chiefs and the city council.

Foxborough public officials are demanding Fifa front up £6m to cover manpower and infrastructure costs surrounding games during the tournament.

The official hosting agreement makes cities liable to pay for policing, safety and protection costs, although US federal funds are available to borrow.

It had been anticipated that the Patriots’ owners, the Kraft family, would bankroll those overheads but they declined to do so.

The Kraft family say that the stadium is in Fifa’s hands for the duration of the event and the Foxborough Select Board has insisted the required entertainment licence “won’t be granted” unless the cash is forthcoming.