He is the sixth construction worker to die in preparations for the tournament.

Brazil's Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo has named the worker as José Antonio Pita Martins.

He reportedly died when a piece of iron fell from a crane he was dismantling outside the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, in the north of the country.

Rebelo has extended his "deep regret" to family and friends of the worker, understood to be a Portuguese national aged 55.

Today's fatal accident is the third at the stadium in Manaus since building work began.

Workers surround an ambulance as their injured colleague is taken to hospital ©AFP/Getty Images



The first was in March last year, and a second worker died in December after falling from the roof of the arena.

Two people died in Sao Paulo in December after a crane collapsed at its World Cup stadium, and another died in Brasilia.

The Arena da Amazonia is one of several World Cup stadiums plagued by delays.

Six of the 12 venues failed to meet the December 31 deadline given to them by football's world governing FIFA.

Manaus is due to host four World Cup Games, with the first between England and Italy on June 14.

The tournament begins in Sao Paulo on June 12, with the final in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.