Brazilians have long suspected that the costs of preparing for the 2014 World Cup were artificially inflating because of corruption.  At least one official audit has confirmed those fears, revealing that the cost of building the capital’s stadium has nearly tripled to US$900 Million in public funds, largely because of allegedly fraudulent billing.

Four weeks remain until the first game of the tournament.  And while FIFA is concerned, Brazil insists it will be ready.

“Everything will be in place for the World Cup in Brazil to be a success,” said President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday.  “The stadiums will be ready, the airports will be ready, we are guaranteeing public safety.”

That guarantee is to be handled by local governments, although federal security forces will be deployed.  But Joao Augusto Nardes, president of the government’s watchdog group, said that measures to provide “adequate security to those attending the World Cup” are not yet in place.

And crews haven’t installed all of the seats at Sao Paulo’s Itaquerao Stadium, which will host the opener between Brazil and Croatia.  70,000 people are expected for that match, including several heads of state.

Brasilia’s Mane Garrincha Stadium is now the world’s second-most expensive football arena – even though the city has no major professional team.  And the lead contractor has increased its political donations 500-fold in the most recent election, flagrantly linking politicians to construction firms in a way that only deepens public suspicions.

One of the most egregious cost overruns came with the contractors billed the government US $1.5 Million for transporting pre-fabricated grandstands to the stadium.  It was only supposed to coast $4,500.