Football: World Cup preparations concern FIFA

RIO DE JANEIRO: Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke highlighted major delays in preparing six Brazilian stadiums for next year’s Confederations Cup, a dress rehearsal event for the 2014 World Cup. “At this time, we are not in a position to have six stadiums ready for the Confederations Cup,” said Valcke. “What I can say is that we have less than six. Few stadiums will be delivered on time. Things need to be speeded up for the Confederations Cup.” The Confederations Cup is to be held from June 15-30, 2013, in four confirmed cities — Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, where the final and the opening game will be played respectively, as well as Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza. Fifa is to make a final decision in November on venues depending on progress of the work on stadiums in the northern cities of Recife and Salvador.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2012.