50,000 free World Cup tickets to be distributed to the poor

PanARMENIAN.Net - FIFA acknowledges there is still a lot left to be done in Brazil to successfully stage next year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

"There is a lot of work in the stadiums and a lot of work in urban mobility and the different infrastructure work,'' FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said Wednesday, Nov 28. "Yeah, we have plenty of work to do, but we will have what we need to organize the World Cup in the best environment.''

Valcke's comments came after a board meeting of the local World Cup organizing committee and following FIFA's final tour of the World Cup host cities this year. The draw of the Confederations Cup is Saturday in Sao Paulo.

The local organizing committee said more than 120,000 tickets have been sold for the Confederations Cup.

"The Brazilian government has been working very hard,'' Brazil Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said. "We know there are a lot of challenges, we know there is a lot of work ahead, but there is a lot of dedication.''

Valcke said FIFA was giving Brazil 50,000 free World Cup tickets to be distributed to Indigenous Brazilian and members of social programs aimed at the poorer population, AP reported.