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13 June 2013 - 07:14 AMT

FIFA dismisses concerns, says Brazil will be ready for World Cup

Three days before the start of the Confederations Cup and exactly a year before the World Cup kickoff, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke dismissed concerns that Brazil will not be ready for the bigger tournament, Reuters reported.

Flanked by football great Pelé, who urged Brazilian fans to stand unified behind their still evolving national team, Valcke unveiled a clock in Rio de Janeiro counting down the days until the World Cup starts.

Valcke said that 12 months is enough time to finish work at airport terminals and the 12 stadiums that will play host to the event.

Aldo Rebelo, Brazil’s sports minister, has said repeatedly that the stadiums will be completed by a December deadline.

"That is going to happen," Valcke said on Wednesday, June 12 echoing the comments by Rebelo, who was also at the unveiling of the clock. "There is no Plan B. There is no solution other than having those 12 stadiums," Valcke added.