BERLIN, May 31: Germany officially declared itself ready for the World Cup on Wednesday when a final government progress report said everything was in place for a successful tournament.

“Germany is ready,” Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said, nine days before the climax of nine years of planning.

At a Berlin news conference alongside soccer great Franz Beckenbauer, who is head of the tournament's organising committee, Schaeuble was at pains to stress German hospitality after a wave of negative publicity over racist attacks.

“We want to show our country is friendly to foreigners,” Schaeuble said. “Germany is an open, peaceful and tolerant country and we will show that during the World Cup too.”

He said the government had agreed with world soccer body FIFA to send out a strong anti-racism message during the 32-nation tournament which kicks off on June 9.

Before the quarter-final games, all team captains will read out statements condemning discrimination in soccer and in society, with the motto “Say No to Racism”.—Agencies