Jerome Valcke to visit incomplete World Cup stadia

Rio de Janeiro: FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke will this week increase pressure on Brazil's World Cup organisers by visiting three stadiums that are yet to be ready for football's signature event.

Valcke is scheduled to inspect Sao Paulo's Itaquerao stadium Tuesday followed by Arena da Baixada in Curitiba and Cuiaba's Arena Pantanal Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

He will also fly to the northeastern city of Fortaleza and take part in the local organising committee's board meeting in Rio de Janeiro Thursday.

It is expected to be Valcke's final visit to Brazil before returning in late May and remaining until the end of the tournament.

FIFA originally set a December 2012 deadline for the country's 12 World Cup stadiums to be ready.

It is understood local officials have been told the venues in Sao Paulo, Curitiba and Cuiaba must be ready by May 15 -- a month before football's showpiece event begins.