Brazil backed to stage 2014 world cup

The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) has pledged its full support behind Brazil’s candidature to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

All countries that are part of Conmebol initially agreed to give Brazil their support to stage the sport’s showpiece in eight years’ time, but the arrival of Colombia as a rival late candidate earlier this week has caused a sudden split.

According to the Uruguayan Football Association president and Conmebol vice-president Eugenio Figueredo, the votes of the three Conmebol countries represented in FIFA’s Executive Committee will all go to Brazil.

“We decided to back Brazil for 2014, ratifying what was already voted upon,” confirmed Figueredo, ahead of the Copa Libertadores draw ceremony.

“We are announcing what we have already decided. The three countries who are represented in the Executive Committee of FIFA will vote for Brazil.”

The three representatives are the Conmebol president, Paraguay’s Nicolas Leoz, FIFA vice-president, Argentina’s Julio Grondona and the Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira.

Figueredo also announced that on February 6, Conmebol will meet in Venezuela to set the regulations of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. These are due to be played in a league system, with home-and-away ties, as was the case in the last three editions.

Figueredo also acknowledged the decision that the fifth-placed Conmebol team will play off with a CONCACAF representative and no longer a team from Oceania.