WORLD SERVICEsix weeks of group-stage matches. There is a lot of
football still to be played, and all 32 teams are still
in contention. Taking all of the remaining terms to
a single venue would be a massive undertaking.
Should such a move be necessary, Uruguay would
be the obvious candidate. As ofJuly 25, the country
had suffered just 34 coronavirus deaths, and the
city of Montevideo – which 90 years ago staged
the first World Cup – has no shortage of stadiums.
The task would be simplified, of course, by the
absence of supporters.
In normal circumstances such a scheme would
be unthinkable. These, though, are exceptional
times. The Uruguay option has been floated behind
the scenes, and could come to the rescue should it
not prove possible to restart the Copa Libertadores
on September15 as planned.Montevideo...the city
boasts over a dozen
football stadiums,
including the huge
Estadio CentenarioHolders...Flamengo
wonbothoftheirCopa
Libertadores fixtures
back in March