Brazil on schedule, says Valcke

SAO PAULO — FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said Thursday he is satisfied with stadium construction in Brazil ahead of next year’s Confederation Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

After a three-day trip to inspect the host cities and discuss the country’s preparations with local officials and organizers, Valcke said work in Brazil is on schedule.

“Our greatest source of satisfaction is that we are getting closer and closer,” Valcke said after a board meeting of the local organizing committee in Rio de Janeiro. “We’ve just completed another satisfactory visit, this time to Cuiaba and Manaus, and we are convinced that the work is right on track.”

Valcke visited the jungle city of Manaus Tuesday and the western city of Cuiaba Wednesday.

The secretary general noted there was reason for some concern in Recife, which has to be ready to host Confederations Cup matches in 2013, but he said FIFA will continue to closely monitor construction work in the northeastern city, which has until November to show that it can pull it off. Salvador also has the November deadline to show it will be ready for the Confederations Cup, the warm-up tournament which will also be played in Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Recife and Fortaleza.

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo and sports ministry official Luis Fernandes accompanied Valcke during this week’s tour. — AP