Brazil runs risk of not hosting 2014 World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO - A long line of poor communication within the Brazilian government and towards FIFA has caused the country to consider the possibility of losing the privilege to host the 2014 World Cup on Monday.

A mixed reaction throughout Brazil has the country talking.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is currently not speaking with the president of the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer, Ricardo Teixeira, causing problems in the coordination of planning for the World Cup as well as creating animosity.

Additionally, Brazil's minister of sports Aldo Rebelo decided to cut communication with FIFA's Secretary-General Jerome Valcke due to the recent harsh criticisms related to Brazil's behind-schedule chronogram.

"Although I would like to see the World Cup held in Brazil, maybe we need the shame of losing the title as host of the competition in order for our politicians to wake up and start to take things seriously," said shop owner Valdair Addor.

Valcke will be visiting Brazil on March 7 in order to inspect the level of progress made in the cities of Curitiba, Cuiaba, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo. Chaperoned by Ronaldo, Bebeto and Aldo Rebelo, the Brazilians will have to fully impress Valcke in order to avoid serious repercussions.

Valcke recently described Rebelo's decision to appeal the secretary-general's participation in further negotiations with Brazil as "childish". Should Valcke consider Brazil's preparations as inadequate, he can convey to FIFA's President Joseph Blatter the necessity to change the host country of the 2014 World Cup.

"There is no way that FIFA can take the honor of hosting the World Cup away from us. It would be a criminal act. Just as Brazil needs to be a little more flexible in the preparations for the World Cup, so does FIFA. It's time to start acting like adults and work together. I want to see Brazil win its sixth World Cup title on its home turf," said a soccer fan named Jose Calvacante.

Legally, FIFA has until July 2012 to withdraw Brazil as the host of the 2014 World Cup without having to pay any fines. Such measures would be unprecedented and would stun the international community. However, Brazil's lack of seriousness regarding necessary preparations as well as the lack of respect for FIFA's time lines have caused the drastic consequence to be given a new light.