2014 FIFA World Cup Bids - Brazil Bid

Brazil Bid

Brazil who eventually won the hosting rights for the 2014 FIFA World Cup were the only remaining official candidate after Colombia withdrew its bid on 11 April 2007. The Brazilian bid was officially launched on 13 December 2006 by Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, who signed the letter of candidacy in Tokyo in the presence of CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz and CONMEBOL general secretary Eduardo De Luca.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter stated on 4 July 2006 that the 2014 World Cup would probably be held in the country, though he acknowledged in earlier comments that the country did not have any stadia ready for the Cup at the moment. On 28 September he met with the Brazilian President Lula and was quoted as saying he wants the country to prove its capabilities before making a decision. "But the ball is on Brazil's court now," he said. In September 2006, Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva confirmed Blatter's opinion, declaring: "We don’t have any stadium which is in a condition to host World Cup games. We’re going to have to build at least 12 new stadiums in this country.”

Potential host cities are already preparing for the tournament. CBF and government officials have toured many cities and stadia in the latest months, and 18 states have applied to host World Cup matches. However, the actual number of host cities is expected to be much lower, as FIFA stipulates a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten.

On 31 July 2007, Brazil's bid became official, when the Brazilian Football Confederation president, Ricardo Teixeira, delivered personally to FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, a document containing Brazil's hosting stadia and other required information concerning plans in improvements for general infrastructure and about finances, though more details about this document are unknown.

Early in that day, a list of stadia selected was published by Brazilian media. At least 21 cities were considered initially, but only 18 cities were pre-selected as able to host international football matches. Among the 18 finalist cities, four stadia are under construction or will be built if the right to host is won. The three cities not accepted were Campinas (São Paulo), João Pessoa (Paraíba) and Teresina (Piauí). On 17 August 2007, in a meeting between CBF officials and representatives from the 18 cities, Ricardo Teixeira confirmed the names of five host cities, and left the 13 other to fight for the remaining spots. The list below includes the cities selected by the Brazilian Football Confederation to receive the World Cup (the five confirmed cities are mentioned first):

• Brasília, Federal District - Estádio Mané Garrincha
• Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - Estádio Magalhães Pinto
• Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul - Estádio José Pinheiro Borba
• Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro - Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho (Maracanã)
• São Paulo, São Paulo - Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo

• Cuiabá, Mato Grosso - Estádio Governador José Fragelli
• Curitiba, Paraná - Kyocera Arena
• Fortaleza, Ceará - Estádio Plácido Castelo
• Maceió, Alagoas - Arena Zagallo (to be built)
• Manaus, Amazonas - Estádio Vivaldo Lima
• Natal, Rio Grande do Norte - Estrela dos Reis Magos (to be built)
• Recife/Olinda, Pernambuco - Recife-Olinda Arena (to be built)
• Salvador, Bahia - Arena da Bahia (to be built)

This list will eventually be narrowed down to meet FIFA's requirement that no more than one host city feature two host stadia. It may also include new stadiums to be built in the next years.

Brazil hosted the 1950 World Cup and has hosted the Copa América four times (1919, 1922, 1949, and 1989).