World Cup: Focus now turns to Brazil for 2014

SAO PAULO — South Africa successfully hosted the World Cup. Now the focus and pressure is on Brazil.

The 2010 World Cup went off without any major problems despite fears that South Africa would not be able to cope. Brazil will also have to prove it can overcome challenges to host soccer's biggest showcase in four years.

And it will be a hard task for Latin America's biggest nation.

FIFA has already heavily criticized Brazil's preparations for the 2014 tournament, saying the country is behind schedule on several fronts, including stadium renovation and infrastructure.

Even Brazilian authorities acknowledge they have to pick up the pace to get the country ready in time. A recent report by a government watchdog has acknowledged "delays" in work to fulfill FIFA's timetable, warning that construction in some key areas, such as airports, may not be completed in time.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said a few months ago that Brazil's lack of progress was "amazing," and on Monday reiterated that a lot of work still needs to be done to prepare the country for the World Cup.

"There are challenges ahead in Brazil such as building new stadiums, airport, roads and setting up a communication system," Valcke said. "But we are looking forward to the next four years."

Brazil's sports minister, Orlando Silva, told The Associated Press during the World Cup that the nation was not yet "at full speed" in its preparations, although he was optimistic the country would have everything in place by 2014.

Brazilian soccer federation president Ricardo Teixeira also played down "problems" in the nation's preparations, as did President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who urged critics to stop making a big deal of the current delays and said the problems were being blown out of proportion.

"The World Cup in Africa is over and now everybody is asking, 'Where are the Brazilian airports? Where are the Brazilian stadiums? Where are the Brazilian trains?'" Silva said Tuesday. "As if we were a bunch of idiots who didn't know how to do things and define priorities."

Brazil will also host the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and it will also stage the Confederations Cup in 2013 as a prelude to the World Cup.

The challenges faced by Brazil are similar to the ones South Africa had to overcome before this year's World Cup — high crime rates, a huge disparity between rich and poor, long distances between cities, and a need for extensive new infrastructure.