"Time is Flying" as World Cup Approaches

(ATR) FIFA's Jerome Valcke says Brazil is in a precarious spot as the June kickoff nears.

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FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke arrives to give a press conference at the Mario Filho "Maracana" stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 27, 2014.     AFP PHOTO /VANDERLEI ALMEIDA        (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)
FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke arrives to give a press conference at the Mario Filho "Maracana" stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 27, 2014. AFP PHOTO /VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

FIFA’s Jerome Valcke stressed the small amount of time remaining before the World Cup in his latest update on Brazil’s progress on Thursday.

He added that there are "risks" involved in taking construction on three stadiums up to the last minute.

With the World Cup now 11 weeks away, Valcke received assurances that the stadia in Curitiba, Cuiaba, and Sao Paulo will be ready by the beginning of the tournament.

"We are late and we will have challenges," Valcke told the AP. "And we will have a lot of work, and potentially some risks coming at the last minute because we have not tried and tested all the facilities."

He particularly stressed the importance of the Sao Paulo facility.

"You cannot move the opening game of the World Cup to another stadium. It has to take place in Sao Paulo. There is no other choice. You have thousands of people who have bought tickets.

"We have to work all together to make sure it happens."

Written by Nick Devlin

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