Brazil, FIFA confirm Confederations Cup host cities

Brazil and football's world governing body FIFA on Thursday confirmed that the 2013 Confederations Cup -- the dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup -- will be held in six host cities, as initially planned. "The host cities for the Confederations Cup will be Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador," the president of the local organizing committee for the World Cup, Jose Maria Marin, told reporters. "For the first time, this competition will be organized in six cities of the same country," he added. Last month, FIFA said four stadiums would be enough for Brazil to stage the event in view of delays in readying the six arenas initially planned. There was particular concern about the stadiums in the northeastern cities of Recife and Salvador, where preparations have been running behind schedule. FIFA has said that it requires that stadiums be ready at least one month ahead of time to conduct tests on security, telecommunications and other areas before the competition gets under way. The Confederations Cup, to be held June 15-30, 2013, will be contested by Spain, who won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, host Brazil, as well as Mexico, winner of the golden cup of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and Uruguay, winner of the America Cup. Other participants include Italy, the beaten Euro 2012 finalists, Tahiti representing Oceania, and the winner of the 2013 African nations cup, which takes place in January next year. The draw for the tournament will take place in Sao Paulo on December 1.