Fifa criticism of Brazil World Cup preparations ominous for Rio 2016

BRAZILIAN cities have been given a month to prove they can deliver their 2014 World Cup stadiums by Fifa in a move that will send shockwaves through the Rio 2016 organising committee.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS: The world famous Maracana stadium is in need of a facelift but is among the stadia called into question by Fifa

Fifa has warned that Brazil is ‘not on the right path' to host the tournament in a shade over four years' time - two years before the first South American Olympics is scheduled for Rio.

Football's world governing body, already piqued by the persistent infrastructure problems with South Africa, are alarmed by the lack of progress in Brazil in the two-and-a-half years since it was unanimously awarded the World Cup.

"It is amazing that Brazil is already very late," said Valcke. "I got a report on the status of the Brazilian stadiums and I have to say it is not very nice.

"The stadiums are the basic points we need to have a World Cup and in Brazil, for the time being, most of the deadlines are already over and we have to work on new deadlines.

 "They are proving how difficult it is to hold a World Cup in Brazil, just as it was in South Africa. Brazil is not on the right path. This year there is a presidential election, so almost nothing will happen.

"Next year, carnival comes along. So is everything going to start only after carnival?

"All the things they have promised, all the commitments from different people, they have to deliver these commitments. We do not want a hasty World Cup done at the last minute."