Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia are among the 12 Brazilian cities selected as host cities for the 2014 World Cup, soccer's world governing body FIFA said on Sunday.
Brazil was originally scheduled to pick 10 host cities. However, after a strong campaign by the Brazilian government and the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer, FIFA agreed to increase by two.
Without any big surprises, the official host cities are: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, Natal and Manaus.
Brazilian Confederation of Soccer president Ricardo Teixeira said that the benefits will not be restricted solely to the host cities.
"The question is not about whether or not to be a host city, but rather about participating. The jobs and investments that the World Cup will bring are not restricted to the host cities," he said.
"Cities throughout Brazil will be able to count on our help and support if they want to present a project that would attract tourists during the Cup. Our work has to get started now. We need to live up to the privilege of hosting the Cup."
Rio de Janeiro will host the final, while Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte are competing to host the opening match.
(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2009)
