Brazil Named As 2014 World Cup Hosts

World football governing body FIFA has named Brazil as the host nation for the
2014 World Cup, the second time the country will have staged football’s flagship
event.

The South American country was the only one bidder to host the tournament, a
scenario which emphasised the major flaws in FIFA’s rotation by continent system
which has now been scrapped.

Brazil have won the tournament a record five times and hosted the World Cup
once before, in 1950, when they lost 2-1 in the final to Uruguay.

It is the first time the World Cup is being held in South America since
Argentina hosted, and won, the 1978 tournament.

In its bid document, Brazil has earmarked around £550m to update its
stadiums, including the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro which hosted the 1950 World
Cup final.

FIFA’s inspection report identified 18 grounds with more than 40,000 capacity
that could host World Cup games – a list that will be reduced to nine or 10.

However, of the 18, four would have to be re-built from scratch and all of
the others need to undergo substantial renovation.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said, however, that he had been impressed by
Brazil’s plans for 2014 despite the fact they were the only bidders.

‘The task was not easy – for us it was a real big challenge to have the same
list of requirements and the same conditions for only one candidate. There was
an extraordinary presentation by the delegation and we witnessed that this World
Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil.

‘This is the country that has given to the world the best football and the
best footballers, and they are five times world champions.’

FIFA has also decided that women’s world champions Germany will host the 2011
Women’s World Cup after beating off competition from Canada.