Fifa gives 2014 World Cup to South America

The 2014 World Cup will be played in a South American country as part of FIFA's policy to rotate the finals around the continents, it was announced today.

The decision was taken by FIFA's executive committee at a meeting in Zurich today and world football's governing body are also to consider a proposal to increase the number of teams competing in the finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany from 32 to 36 countries.

The proposal was made by the South Americans, who are furious the number of places available to their countries in finals has been cut, and the 2014 announcement was clearly aimed at soothing their ruffled feathers.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter told a news conference: "We decided that after Europe hosts the next World Cup and Africa in 2010 there is a continent which has not organised a World Cup since 1978 - although having won it nine times in total - and that's South America. The 2014 World Cup will go to South America."Argentina hosted the 1978 finals and Colombia were due to stage the 1986 World Cup but had to pull out due to financial problems and Mexico stepped in.

Blatter insisted the economic problems which have affected much of Latin America in the last decade, notably Argentina, need not prove a hindrance.

He added: "I wouldn't say all of South America has been economically depressed because some have had some wonderful economies. Chile and Brazil are in a good state, and Venezuela and Colombia - if they didn't have other problems - are very rich countries.

"Who can predict the economy of tomorrow? But the World Cup is not dependent on the economic strength of the country where it's played, its strengths are the quality of the game and quality of the competition."The South American confederation conmebol have been furious since a decision in December to cut their places in the 2006 finals.

At one stage the 10 countries were looking at a possible six members playing in Germany in 2006 - four guaranteed qualifiers, a possible fifth playing off against the Oceania champions plus reigning champions Brazil.

However, FIFA decided last May the champions would have to qualify, and in December that South America would lose their play-off spot meaning a maximum of four could get to Germany.

That prompted Argentina's senior FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona to come to Zurich with the proposal to increase the number of finalists to 36 countries in Germany.

Blatter said the proposal would be passed to the German organisers of the tournament for their views before any decision would be made, and the matter will be discussed by the executive committee at their next meeting on May 3.

He added: "We will have to look into all the parameters that would come from increasing it by four teams - the contracts of the organisers, marketing matters, television matters and stadiums and guarantees."The executive committee also approved an international calendar from 2004 to 2008 which all countries and national associations will have to abide by.

Blatter said the new calendar would allow the controversial World Club Championships and Confederations Cup to continue, but said changes would mean there were fewer occasions in which European-based players would have to travel for qualifying games in Africa and South America.

Meanwhile, the South American federation have agreed European-based players will not have to be released by their clubs for friendly games outside Europe. It follows several matches, most recently China v Brazil, where clubs have been forced to release players.