Football's world governing body FIFA has accepted that Brazil will not be entirely ready to host June's Confederations Cup - but has warned it would expect tip-top organisation for next year's World Cup finals.
Secretary General Jerome Valcke warned that any compromises on the organisation of the World Cup "will be impossible" as Brazil strains to complete a huge multi-billion dollar infrastructural overhaul in order to ready itself for hosting two of the largest sports events in the world - with the Olympic Games due to be hosted by Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
FIFA have voiced concerns that some venues face a race against the clock to be ready - including the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio, currently being refurbished.
Twelve venues will share the 64-match World Cup in what will be a logistically far more complicated operation.