How bad are preparations going for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? FIFA President Sepp Blatter says Russia, which won't host until 2018, is farther along than Brazil, which has only two years left to get everything ready.

"The tournament organization in Brazil is not as good as in Russia, even though there is little more than two years left until the Brazil World Cup, and until the Russian one, more than six years," Blatter said at centenary celebrations of the Russian Football Union in St. Petersburg. "Brazil has so many problems, but with Russia everything will be wonderful."

Russia is building or refurbishing more than a dozen stadiums, mainly in cities in the country's European territory. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said his government is considering free air and train passes for fans for the duration of the tournament.