Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff brushed aside concerns over delays in preparations for the 2014 World Cup, insisting that all stadia would be ready in time for the tournament.

Practically all the works which were to have been carried out in the 12 venues across Brazil for the tournament have run into delays, with some struggling to meet FIFA construction deadlines.

But Rousseff insisted: “We have stadia which are still being built and these must be ready by December 2013 to be in an extremely calm and comfortable situation.

“There are others which are a little more delayed but all will be ready.

“I feel confident that Brazil will be ready in 2014 to present the best World Cup. The government together with the mayors of the cities of the World Cup are taking all necessary measures to ensure that this will happen.”

The Confederations Cup takes place in Brazil in June 2013 and will act as a warm-up for the World Cup requiring that most of the infrastructure for 2014 be in place.

FIFA had expressed their concern over delays but gave the organisers a vote of confidence in June, after the previous month announcing that two stadia – Sao Paulo and Natal – would not be ready to host Confederations Cup matches.

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