The 12 Brazilian cities nominated as venues for the 2014 World Cup have been given a month to prove they can deliver their promised stadium projects after Fifa warned that the country "is not on the right path" to host the tournament.

Distant goal: The Maracana stadium, scheduled to host the final, is in need of a massive upgrade

Jerome Valcke, the Fifa general secretary, has admitted that he is alarmed at how little work has been carried out in the 30 months since Brazil was unanimously chosen to hold the competition. It is thought the game's governing body is keen to avoid a repeat of the concerns over South Africa's infrastructure, still lingering with the start of the tournament just weeks away.

"It is amazing that Brazil is already very late," said Valcke. "I got a report on the status of the Brazilian stadiums and I have to say it is not very nice. The stadiums are the basic points we need to have a World Cup and in Brazil, for the time being, most of the deadlines are already over and we have to work on new deadlines.

"They are proving how difficult it is to hold a World Cup in Brazil, just as it was in South Africa. The red light has been switched on. Brazil is not on the right path. This year there is a presidential election, so almost nothing will happen. Next year, carnival comes along. So is everything going to start only after carnival?

"All the things they have promised, all the commitments from different people, they have to deliver these commitments. We do not want a hasty World Cup done at the last minute."

Brazilian officials yesterday started a two-week inspection of the 12 projects, which include five new stadiums and comprehensive upgrades of Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana, scheduled to host the final, Sao Paulo's Morumbi and five others around the country.

Ricardo Teixeira, president of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF), has warned all 12 cities that they must satisfy the authorities they have the finances in place to fund construction or risk being struck off as host venues.

"The reality is that the projects are very late," said Teixeira. "These approved projects have a period of almost a month to prove their financial feasibility. They will be given a deadline for the information that they can build the stadiums."

Fifa is unlikely to be impressed by the prospect of Brazil significantly altering their bid at this stage, though the rotation system under which the country was chosen makes it unlikely the tournament would be relocated.

Brazil easily saw off competition from Argentina and Colombia to host the World Cup for the first time since 1950 and, though the country's transport infrastructure still needs a radical overhaul and the bullet train joining Rio, Sao Paulo and Campinas remains a pipe dream, there are no alternatives in South America which represent a convenient backup plan.

Brazil's troubles, combined with those of South Africa – where final work at Soccer City, the showpiece stadium which will host the final, is continuing – are likely to play into the hands of England's bid for the 2018 tournament.

Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, admitted last week that England would have "no problems" delivering the World Cup, though he confessed to being impressed by Russia's proposal. "What they presented is remarkable," he said.

Where they will play

A. Belo Horizonte, Mineirao (upgraded to 70,000 capacity)
B. Brasilia, Estadio Nacional (upgraded to 71,500)
C. Cuiaba, Verdao (new stadium, 42,500)
D. Curitiba, Arena de Baixada (upgraded to 41,375)
E. Fortaleza, Castelao (upgraded to 66,700)
F. Manaus, Arena Manaus (new stadium, 50,000)
G. Natal, Arena de Dunas (new stadium, 42,500)
H. Porto Alegre, Estadio Beira-Rio (upgraded, 62,000)
I. Recife, Cidade de Copa (new stadium, 46,160)
J. Rio de Janeiro, Mara-cana (upgraded, 90,000)
K. Salvador, Fonte Nova (new stadium, 55,000)
L. Sao Paulo, Morumbi (upgraded, 62,000)