Preparations for the 2014 World Cup are back on track just two months after FIFA publicly criticized organizers for missing deadlines, Brazil's top football official has said. “There are no problems,” Brazil football federation president Ricardo Teixeira said as the tournament's official logo was launched Thursday. He acknowledged uncertainty over Sao Paulo's role as a host city after the Morumbi stadium was removed from the project last month – despite repeated denials it would have to be dropped. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke had previously described Brazil's lack of progress as “amazing.” FIFA awarded the 2014 World Cup hosting rights six years ago but Brazil has barely begun building and renovating the 12 stadiums it needs. Teixeira said that “the situation is completely different” to when Valcke spoke. “Some of the stadia have commenced building. We have already defined exactly what's going to be happening in terms of budgets for the construction up to December,” he said through a translator. Teixeira said construction work at Belo Horizonte and Salvador had begun, but there were doubts over the status of Sao Paulo – Brazil's biggest city – and Curitiba as hosts. “We will come up with a definition about what role Sao Paulo will play in the World Cup,” Teixeira said. “Will there be a stadium built or not? How will they participate as a city? “The issue with Sao Paulo will have to be solved as quickly as possible. Curitiba stadium is facing some financial constraints but once financial guarantees are in place construction will begin.” Brazil also faces challenges upgrading airports essential to moving teams, fans and officials around such a large country. “The three main priorities we have are airports, airports, airports,” Teixeira said. Organizers also are considering dividing the 12 host cities into four regions for the tournament to limit travel. Teixeira also accepted that Brazil, which has a reputation for high urban crime levels, had issues guaranteeing security. “It's not surprising – this is a problem that's not linked to any specific country,” he said. “We have sent a huge security group to South Africa, they were here for a few days and they had to analyze the situation and pick on those issues that needed to be sorted.” Teixeira added that security, as in going into this year's event, would be a key issue. “But insecurity is a global problem.” He added: “The 2014 World Cup is very important for Brazil – it is returning to the country of football, a sport about which all Brazilians are passionate. “The first present a child receives is a football.” Former Brazil star Romario, a champion in 1994, is doing his bit for the 2014 organizers and said: “I hope it will be a chance to show you the true face of Brazil. You will see what football means to Brazilians. I am sure the atmosphere will be unprecedented. “We can expect a great fiesta – and I hope we become world champions.” The draw for the qualifiers will be made on July 30 or 31, 2011, Teixeira announced – though he added the venue for that had yet to be chosen.
