Brazil persists in putting off key World Cup bill

The bill, which has been years in the making, provides a legislative framework for the organisation of the FIFA World Cup and its curtain raiser, the 2013 Confederations.

It was to have gone before Congress on Wednesday but the ruling party coalition delayed the debate, saying a postponement was preferable to a defeat.

"I don't want to run the risk of the opposition defeating [us]," said Deputy Henrique Eduardo Alves, one of the coalition's leaders in the lower house.

One of FIFA's biggest sponsors is beer maker Budweiser and FIFA demands the host nation allow alcohol to be sold at games.

Brazil's slow pace in preparing for the World Cup has irritated FIFA officials and was at the center of executive secretary Jerome Valcke's falling out with the Brazilian government after he said they needed "a kick up the backside."