FIFA begins final tour of World Cup host cities

Jerome Valcke looks on at construction at the stadium in Porto Alegre in October.

Enric Fontcuberta/FIFA via Getty Images

SAO PAULO (AP) -- FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke and local organizers have started their final tour of World Cup host cities in Brazil, making stops at Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Curitiba.

They are the last of the 12 host cities to be visited by 2014 World Cup organizers this year. Sao Paulo will host the tournament's opener and Rio de Janeiro the final at Maracana Stadium.

Valcke has been joined by Brazil sports minister Aldo Rebelo and former Brazil players Bebeto and Ronaldo, who are members of the local World Cup organizing committee.

The tour will end with a board meeting of the local organizing committee Wednesday, three days before the Confederations Cup draw in Sao Paulo.

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