Does FIFA have a Plan B for the 2014 World Cup?

World football governing body FIFA has many unwanted problems with the ongoing 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, which has raised some doubts about the South American nation hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup next summer.The ongoing protest and public anger in Brazil about heavy public spending on stadiums rather than education, the medical system and social services have raised questions about the nation’s ability to host next years show-piece event.

But the irony about these mass protests has been that the real questions about Brazil readiness to host such a big tournament were not really raised or asked.

Earlier this week, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke had said, “There is no Plan B and I haven’t had any offers from other countries to host the World Cup next year. You can always do more in life, it’s never enough. It’s never enough, but I’m not ashamed about what we are doing. We are doing a lot of good things.”

“We are just a small part of what is happening in Brazil. We are the best, no.1 sport in the world. It’s a major sporting event but it’s still just a sporting event,” Valcke added.

“Security is always an issue at the World Cup and the learning from the Confederations Cup will help for the World Cup. There’s no major issue we have faced during the Confederations Cup. There are a few minor problems but it’s more internal work, to make sure the operation works at the best level.

“We must be ready by December 2013 to prepare everything in the 12 host cities,” Valcke ended.

But wouldn’t it be unprofessional on the part of an organisation like FIFA not to have a Plan B, if only on paper?

The situation has reached a point where shifting next year’s World Cup at least needs to be a back-up option, and interestingly, just like in the case of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the names of the USA, England, Germany and Japan are making the rounds of being capable of hosting a FIFA World Cup with a minimum three months of preparation.

So it once more seems that whatever FIFA officials are saying, alternatives are there and can be activated if the need arises.

One can only hope it doesn’t, but one should be prepared.