Brazil confident 2014 World Cup will be a success

MANILA, Philippines – World Cup host Brazil expressed confidence in successfully holding the international event even if the country has been lagging behind schedule for preparations. FIFA President Sepp Blatter earlier criticized Brazil for failing to meet deadlines for the construction of new stadiums. Six of the 12 football fields remain unfinished with only six months to go before the event. But Blatter’s concerns were quickly dismissed by Brazil President Dilma Rouseff, who went to social networking site Twitter to say that preparations and all stadiums will be finished on time. Brazil was elected to host the World Cup in 2007, but construction problems have hounded the country’s preparation, including three deaths during the building of new stadiums. -- Mornings @ ANC, January 7, 2014