Brazil beat Germany to clinch the 2002 World Cup

Fifa said last year that, under its rotation policy, the tournament should be held in South America in 2014, after the 2010 finals went to South Africa.

Brazil's attempt to host the finals has received the backing of president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who met with the country's football federation.

Lula said: "After 64 years, Brazil meet all the criteria to organise the World Cup and the country deserve it."

Despite being the most successful World Cup winning nation - with victories in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 - they have only staged the tournament once, in 1950 when they lost 2-1 to Uruguay.

England, meanwhile, will wait until this autumn before deciding whether to bid for the 2018 finals.