Brazil officially named 2014 World Cup hosts

By Mike Collett

ZURICH (Reuters) - Brazil, the only bidding country, was named as the host nation of the 2014 World Cup finals by world soccer's governing body FIFA on Tuesday.

They become the fifth country to host two World Cups following Mexico (1970 and 1986), France (1938 and 1998), West Germany/Germany (1974 and 2006) and Italy (1934 and 1990).

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil who was present at FIFA House where the announcement was made said: "I would just like to say how happy I am to see Brazil's name on that card.

"Organizing the World Cup is a huge task and we have far more responsibility weighing on our shoulders than when we arrived here. But we will organize a great World Cup and I am very happy."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that although there was only one candidate, FIFA still had a tough task in awarding the finals to Brazil.

"It was a real big challenge," he said, "there were the same list of responsibilities and the same conditions that had to be met as if there had been more candidates."

Brazil, who have won the World Cup a record five times and are the only country to have played in all 18 World Cup finals tournaments, last staged the event in 1950.

They become the first South American hosts since Argentina staged and won the 1978 World Cup finals.