Brazil formally submitted a bid to Fifa to host the 2014 World Cup this morning, hoping to bring the tournament to the country for the first time since 1950.

Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) presented his country's bid to soccer's world governing body in Tokyo where he and his fellow directors are attending the Club World Cup.

The 2014 tournament is scheduled to take place in South America as part of Fifa's continental rotation policy, but although Brazil are expected to be the only South American country to bid, it is not a foregone conclusion they will win the right to stage the event.

Last week Fifa president Sepp Blatter said that if a bid from South America did not meet FIFA's exacting requirements, the World Cup could be "moved north."

Fifa will announce the host of the finals next November.

"We have formally expressed out desire to stage the 2014 World Cup," Teixeira said. "It will be a unique opportunity for the Brazilian people."
   
Critics say that only one Brazilian stadium, the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, is currently in condition to host a World Cup finals match. Public safety and transport are also serious worries.

Brazil, who have won the World Cup a record five times, hosted the tournament for the only time in 1950 when it was won by Uruguay.