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FIFA World Cup: One month to kick off

May 13, 2014 10:05 IST
A woman plays soccer on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro

With a month to go before the World Cup starts, Brazil is in the home straight of the countdown and huffing and puffing to complete stadiums, airports, IT networks and public transportation systems.

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FIFA World Cup: One month to kick off

May 13, 2014 10:05 IST
A member of Salgueiro Samba School performs during their parade at 2014 Brazilian Carnival

Authorities are racing against the clock to finish airport terminals and transport systems and to clean up areas around the grounds.

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FIFA World Cup: One month to kick off

May 13, 2014 10:05 IST
Children play a Sunday 'pelada' soccer match in front of the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, a World Cup host city

Officials at soccer's ruling body FIFA have expressed concern but can do little more than cross their fingers and hope everything is alright on the night.

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FIFA World Cup: One month to kick off

May 13, 2014 10:05 IST
Discarded soccer boots hang from an electric wire where they were thrown by their owners over several months after Sunday 'pelada' soccer matches in the Morro do Papagaio favela in Belo Horizonte, a World Cup host city

The only country to lift the World Cup five times, Brazil won the right to host the competition in 2007 but took almost two years before deciding the host cities.

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FIFA World Cup: One month to kick off

May 13, 2014 10:05 IST
A boy sits on a discarded couch as he watches a Sunday 'pelada' soccer match in the Bom Pastor neighborhood of Natal, a World Cup host city

Brazil has grown hugely over the last decade and more than 30 million people have emerged from poverty to move into the consuming classes.

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FIFA World Cup: One month to kick off

May 13, 2014 10:05 IST
Brazilian fans play football

There is certainly interest from fans. So far 1.5 million tickets have been sold, more than half of them to Brazilians, a record at this stage.

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FIFA World Cup: One month to kick off

May 13, 2014 10:05 IST
A woman walks her dogs during a protest on the streets near the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro

Authorities expect three million Brazilians to travel to see games and another 600,000 foreigners to visit during the month-long jamboree.