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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Only a natural catastrophe would cause the 2010 World Cup to be moved from South Africa, soccer's most senior official has reaffirmed.
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FIFA president Sepp Blatter last week said the international governing body had to consider contingency plans, including countries capable of hosting the sport's showpiece tournament on short notice in case of a disaster.
But he dismissed concerns about South Africa's ability to host the World Cup when he met Tuesday with delegates at the Asian Football Confederation's congress.
"I can tell you that if there is no catastrophe which is a natural catastrophe, then the World Cup 2010 will definitely be organized and played in South Africa," he said.
In an earlier BBC interview, Blatter said "we definitely must have a possibility to go somewhere else."
He had listed the United States, England, Japan, Spain, Mexico and Australia as potential alternatives.
FIFA would "always have contingency plans somewhere ... but the World Cup 2010 will not be taken away from South Africa," he explained Tuesday. "This is my last statement on that."
South Africa won a vote in 2004 for the right to host the World Cup, but has faced logistical problems in overhauling its transport system, updating infrastructure and boosting hotel capacity to cope with the expected influx of visitors.
There are also concerns that the stadiums will not be ready, with a proposed key venue in Cape Town proving problematic due to a combination of political infighting and court challenges.
Local organizing chief Danny Jordaan has repeatedly said that South Africa is on, if not ahead of, schedule. South African officials also say they will tighten security to fight crime and protect visitors.
