Brazil: Country needs to spend $20 billion on infrastructure, transportation for World Cup

Brazil: We must spend $20 billion on World Cup

BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazilian sports minister Orlando Silva says the country must invest $20 billion in infrastructure projects and public transportation to prepare for hosting the 2014 World Cup.

Silva said Wednesday that 53 transportation projects were in the planning stage and some had already been contracted.

Silva said last month that some cities slated to host World Cup games in 2014 may be removed from the list if they did not start renovating older stadiums or building new ones. FIFA has approved 12 cities to host the 2014 games in Brazil. Silva has said eight would be enough for the event. He did not say which cities were running behind schedule.