The FIFA local organising committee (LOC) for the 2010 World Cup has asked for a meeting with Helen Zille, the Cape Town mayor, to defuse the controversy over the Green Point stadium, Irvin Khoza, the LOC chairperson, said.
The move follows Zille's decision this week to put planning for the R1.5 billion stadium project on hold pending a report on the full financial implications for the city.
The stadium, to be developed on the site of an existing stadium, is planned as a venue for one of the World Cup semifinals.
Zille has said she is willing to meet the LOC over the matter and yesterday she said that on the basis of statistics presented to her mayoral committee, it was clear the stadium would cost at least R1.5 billion to build.
At most, the city could expect to receive R500 million from national government and would have to find the remaining R1 billion required.
On the basis of these preliminary statistics, she said it would be "grossly irresponsible" to give the nod to the project.