VIDEO - FIFA TV: FIFA focuses on Asia's sleeping giant

A high level FIFA team headed by their General Secretary Jérôme Valcke visited India from September 4 to 7. Here is the report from FIFA TV about the visit and the outlook for India.

VIDEO - NDTV: FIFA GS Valcke talks what India needs to do to rise

India may have slipped in the FIFA world rankings but FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke, in this exclusive interview to NDTV, says the country has a lot of potential to rise and become a powerful force in the sport.

VIDEO - CNN-IBN: India set to host 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup?

If world football governing body has its way then India would be the hosts of the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. That is what FIFA General Secretary said at a press conference in New Delhi. Here the report from CNN-IBN.

Valcke inaugurates FIFA Regional Development Office in New Delhi

The FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke on a four day visit to the India capital New Delhi earlier today inaugurated the new FIFA Developmental Office in Dwarka close to the Football House of the All India Football Federation.

Jérôme Valcke said on the occasion, "It's really pleasing to see our Endeavour taking shape in India. The Developmental Office being located here reflects our intention to develop football from the grassroots in this country. Development Offices are an integral part of FIFA as it builds the grassroots."

The 51-year old Frenchman emphasised on India's bid to host the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup as well as qualifying for the FIFA 2022 World Cup.

"I sincerely hope that India qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The Developmental Office will have to play a big role in that. Their bid to host the U-17 World Cup is also being taken seriously and I hope they succeed there as well. We will help as much as possible," Valcke maintained.

AFC General Secretary Alex Soosay, who was also present, said, "It is an honour to be a part of this inauguration of the FIFA Developmental Office. We have the perfect atmosphere here - that of football. It's also very close to Football House, the All India Football Headquarters."

Thierry Regenass, Director Member Associations and Development Vision, FIFA reflected on how the plan for the Developmental Office in New Delhi was laid. "We have completed a circle. We started 15 months ago and now the results are in front of us. We had planned to open a Developmental Office in India and I am extremely happy with the steadfast progress it has made so far."

Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, the FIFA Regional Development Officer (RDO) for South and Central Asia said it's a "big challenge" for him and his team.

"It's a very special day for us. We need to do justice with our Endeavour. We plan to move ahead with FIFA's support and this day marks the beginning of a new chapter," he maintained.

Manila Fernando, the former RDO for South Asia added, "I wish Shaji and his team all the very best. My support is with all the Developmental Programmes and endeavours taken in the future."

VIDEO - ESPN: Mission India for FIFA!

Here a news report from ESPN'S Sportscenter on the visit of FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke to India and the support of the world governing body to the All India Football Federation and Indian football, which includes support for the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India and general support to develop the game in the sub-continent over the next decade.

FIFA unhappy with Brazil progress for 2014

World football governing body FIFA will have learned one key lesson from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa that they have to be on their toes and once in a while criticize the organising nation to force them to work even harder and not become complacent to be ready for the month long football extravaganza.

FIFA insiders think they have a tougher job on hand with Brazil then South Africa. Why? Simply because South Africa wanted to prove to the world that the African continent can organise large scale sporting events, while Brazil sees itself as 'the football nation' and is more focused on winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup then delivering a great tournament.

And there lies a great danger which FIFA has realised and one understands from statements made by FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke on Friday at the Inside World Football Forum in Moscow, the first event towards the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Jérôme Valcke said, "There is a lot of work to deliver. We don't have stadiums, we don't have airports, we don't have a national transportation system in place and we are one month away from the preliminary draw."

"The Maracanã is definitely not currently a World Cup stadium and that's why it's closed. It will be ready at the last minute, a few months maybe, even a few weeks before the tournament if they don't speed up the process. In São Paulo they will not even be able to play the Confederations Cup in 2013 because the stadium will not be ready," Valcke added.

Have the Brazilians themselves realised the problems? A Brazilian friend who works in football simply said no and explained that Brazil is growing fast, but the lack of necessary infrastructure like roads, railways and airports could be a major drawback in the development of the country and that could also have effects on the country hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

It is still three years to go until the FIFA World Cup, but nothing is ready so far or close to completion. Seems like some in Zurich are getting nervous.