Cities Named For Brazil 2014 World Cup

12 Brazilian cities have been selected to host matches at the 2014 World Cup finals by world football governing body FIFA.

Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Manaus, Belo Horizonte, Natal, Fortaleza, Curitiba, Salvador, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Recife and Porto Alegre have all been chosen.

Florianopolis, Goiania, Campo Grande, Belem and Rio Branco all missed out.

FIFA, which is holding its annual Congress in the Bahamas, agreed to increase the number of host cities from 10 to 12 because of the size of Brazil.

‘In the very beginning, 10 cities were going to be chosen, but thanks to the influence of (Brazilian Football Confederation president) Ricardo Teixeira and the interest of the whole country, we agreed increasing the number to 12,’ said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

All the stadiums are required to hold at least 40,000 spectators, with the final to be staged in the famous Maracana Stadium which was refurbished in 2006 and reopened in January 2007 with an all-seated capacity of 88,992.