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FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has announced that Brazil will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, while Germany will stage the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup following a meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday 30 October 2007

It was a case of 'ladies first' as the FIFA President turned his attentions to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. After praising both Canada and Germany for their bid presentations, Blatter opened the envelope to reveal to the world that Germany would host the event in four years time.

The news was met with warm applause and broad smiles from Theo Zwanziger (President of the German FA), Birgit Prinz, Fatmire Bajramak and Ursula von der Leyen, the German minister for women and families.

In handing over the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy to the delegation, Blatter said: "With emotion and pleasure, I'm happy to give this trophy back to the DFB and the team that won the trophy this year and in 2003."

Responding, Zwanziger said: "We will organise a World Cup built on Fair Play, respect and recognition. We're proud and grateful to host the FIFA Women's World Cup after the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Germany, the country, its people, government and FA are all looking forward to this event."

Minutes later, Brazil were named as the Host Nation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The South American country was the only one bidding to host the tournament, which was due to be staged on the continent under FIFA's rotation system.

Brazil, who have won the tournament a record five times, hosted the tournament once before in 1950, when they were beaten 2-1 in the Final by Uruguay.

Now they have the chance again, with 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.

"The task was not easy - for us it was a real big challenge to have the same list of requirements and the same conditions for only one candidate than if we had two and perhaps we put the bar higher than if we had two," said Blatter.

"There was an extraordinary presentation by the delegation and we witnessed that this World Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil.

"This is the country that has given to the world the best football and the best footballers, and they are five times world champions."

Reaction in Brazil was predictably ecstatic, with the country's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, summing up the feelings of a nation when he spoke of looking forward to the 'huge task' of preparing for this unique sporting event.

"I would just like to say how happy I am to see Brazil's name on that card," he said. "Organising 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 organise a great World Cup and I am very happy."

(Source: AIPS)