Brazil set to host 2014 World Cup

Brazil is set to host the 2014 World Cup after all 10 South American nations voted to back the country as the continent's only…

Brazil is set to host the 2014 World Cup after all 10 South American nations voted to back the country as the continent's only candidate.

The finals were awarded to South America by world governing body FIFA this month and the confederation's (CSF) decision near-guarantees that Brazil, world champions a record five times, will host the event for the first time since 1950.

The tournament last came to South America in 1978 when it was staged and won by Argentina, which at the time was ruled by a brutal military government.

Although Brazil's supremacy on the pitch is uncontested, staging a World Cup will be an enormous challenge for a country still struggling to overcome enormous crime, poverty, injustice and social problems.

READ MORE

Brazilian domestic football has suffered from chaotic administration and two years ago Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira was interrogated by a Congressional commission of inquiry investigating alleged mismanagement and misuse of funds in the sport.

The inquiry by the Brazilian Senate said in its final report that the CBF had accumulated huge debts after being administered in a "negligent" manner and accused Teixeira of overseeing an "administrative disaster".

Teixeira said his country had a lot of work to do but added that the 11-year timeframe had given them a head start.

"I think people who know Brazil will appreciate that some of our stadiums need a lot of reforms but we have got a lot of time to work with and we can do this bit by bit," he said.