Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has refuted criticism from FIFA President Joseph Blatter regarding the delays in Brazil's World Cup preparations, assuring him that it would be "the Cup of Cups." Rousseff took to Twitter to respond to Blatter, assuring fans that Brazil will host the greatest World Cup ever. Blatter himself later took to social media in support of Brazil's World Cup efforts, stating that the South American soccer giant would be a "great host" for football's biggest tournament.
"Brazilians begin 2014 confident that they are going to host the #CopadasCopas. In Brazil, the Cup will be at home because Brazil is the country of football," Rousseff tweeted. "Tourists will have the opportunity to get to know this surging, multicultural country. A Brazil that is facing the fight to end poverty and creat opportunities for all. The number of tickets sold for the games - the most out of any World Cup - shows that the whole world is confident in Brazil. We love football, and that's why we receive this Cup with pride and will make of it the Cup of Cups."
Rousseff's Twitter rant comes in response to public criticism from Blatter published in the Swiss paper "24 Heures," in which the FIFA president claimed that Brazil was displaying the biggest delays in World Cup preparations since he began working at FIFA in 1975. "Brazil has just realized what it means (to host the World Cup), but they began far too late. It is the most delayed country since I began working at FIFA, which is why it is the only country to be given so much time - seven years - to prepare."
Following Rousseff's rebuttal, the Blatter also took to Twitter to say "I concur with the comments of dilmabr (Rousseff) about the World Cup. The whole world is awaiting the Cup of Cups. Brazil will be a great host. Brazil 2014 will be a great success."
Yet despite this apparent confidence, Brazil has indeed been plagued by delays in their World Cup preparations. Delays in urban developments and airport expansion as well as delays in the completion of 6 of the 12 stadiums constructed for the Cup have frustrated FIFA: an accident at São Paulo's stadium left two workers dead. However, Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo assured that Brazil would be ready.
"Brazil has been working in preparation for the World Cup since it was chosen to host the tournament. Ticket sales, the biggest out of any World Cup, shows that fans all over the world are confident that the World Cup of 2014 will be the best ever," Rebelo told the Associated Press.
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