August 25, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 11, 1428

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 24: A FIFA inspection team arrived in Brazil on Thursday for a look at the country’s bid to host the 2014 World Cup.

According to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), FIFA officials would visit five candidate cities — Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and Porto Alegre — during their nine-day trip.

The other 13 cities would make their presentations in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is the only country bidding to host the event, due to be staged in South America under FIFA’s rotation system.

FIFA have said that Brazil, which staged the 1950 event, is not guaranteed to host the tournament. The event could go elsewhere if the bid is not up to scratch. Brazilians are divided over whether their country should host the tournament.

Critics also wonder whether Brazil will be able to bring its dilapidated stadiums and creaking transport infrastructure up to the standards demanded by FIFA. FIFA's decision will be made on Oct. 30.—Reuters