Brazil 2014

Brazil has just selected to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This is a welcome change to the crap World Cup I am expecting in South Africa in 2010...

Brazil is still the most successful World Cup country of all-time, and with 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) also the most winning nation ever. However, what makes the hosting of the World Cup very interesting is that Brazil, in spite of its dominance, has not hosted the World Cup since 1950.

In 1950, Brazil was already one of the most powerful footballing nations on the planet, but had still never won the World title. But in 1950, at home, in front of record crowds, the Brazilians surely expected to come top of the world. In the final match in Maracana, in Rio, in front of an all-time record crowd of (an estimated) 200,000 spectators, Brazil lost 1-2 to their little neighbor Uruguay, in what is still one of the most painful defeat for Brazilians.

To this day, of all the World Cup winners, Brazil is the only one that has not won the title at home.

It is likely too early to predict anything for 2014, but I don't think we should expect a repeat of 1950... But be sure that Brazil will probably do anything to wash away that date, and finally be win the title as hosts!