RIO DE JANEIRO, June 06. /ITAR-TASS/. The revenue from the World Cup 2014 in Brazil is expected to reach around $4.5 billion, FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) Secretary General Jerome Valcke said at a press conference in Sao Paolo, where the first match of the tournament will take place on June 12 between Brazil and Croatia.

“We expect the revenues (from World Cup 2014 in Brazil) to reach $4.5 billion,” Valcke said.

FIFA spent more than $2 billion to organize one of the world’s most anticipated sports events.

“We at FIFA, we are confident it will be a celebration,” Brazilian media quoted FIFA President Sepp Blatter as saying. “I’m an optimist. After the tournament kicks off, I think there will be a better mood.”

Valcke also promised FIFA World Cup 2014 will run smoothly. “We have everything ready for 12 June, we have the best base camps for the teams,” Valcke said. “There are no risks for the opening weeks of the competition, which are the most challenging because there are the most teams. We are in control, we have nothing to fear in the coming days,” he added.

Earlier, Valcke has expressed concerns about the readiness of some stadiums to host the tournament. He said he feared venues in Natal, Porto Alegre and Sao Paolo would not complete preparations on time. Fifteen games are scheduled to take place at the stadiums in the three cities. Preparations at other nine stadiums have been completed in time.