Brazil Looking To Use Upcoming Confederations Cup To Silence Country's Skeptics

When the Confederations Cup kicks off in 10 days, Brazil will have two weeks to convince skeptics that it can honor "its pledge to stage a successful World Cup next year," according to THE AGE. The Confederations Cup, in which eight teams -- Spain, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Japan, Nigeria and Tahiti -- will compete from June 15 to 30, "is seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup." Some 355,000 Brazilians and foreign tourists "are expected for the tournament for which Latin America's leading power has struggled to complete the construction or renovation of the six host arenas." Also running behind schedule are urban mobility infrastructure projects initially planned for the World Cup (THE AGE, 6/5).