The FIFA Executive Committee has named Brazil as the Host Nation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The South American country was the only one to bid for the tournament, which was to be staged on the continent according to FIFA’s rotation system. Brazil, have won the tournament a record five times, hosted the tournament once before in 1950, but were beaten 2-1 in the Final by Uruguay.
Now they have the opportunity again, with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter saying that he had been impressed by Brazil’s plans for 2014 despite the fact they were the only bidders following Colombia’s withdrawal.
Blatter said that the task was not easy – for it was a real big challenge to have the same list of requirements and the same conditions for only one candidate than if they were two and perhaps raising the bar higher than if they were two, said Blatter. The 2014 World Cup would have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil.
The Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that the nation was looking forward to the “huge task” of preparing for this unique sporting event.