FIFA officials and representatives of the 32 teams competing in this year's World Cup wrapped up a two-day workshop in Tokyo on Thursday by declaring that they are ready to stage the World Cup in May and June.
In fact, Michel Zen-Ruffinen, the general secretary of soccer's world governing body, went so far as to say they could hold the World Cup immediately, if they needed to.
"We had a very intense two days in Tokyo, people were very active, and we had a lot of requests and suggestions," Zen-Ruffinen said. "We are ready. If the World Cup started today, we would be in a position to carry it out.