The Brazilian Football Confederation has officially launched a bid to host the 2014 World Cup today by handing a signed letter of intent to FIFA bosses at the Club World Cup in Tokyo today.

Ricardo Teixeira, president of the CBF told FIFA's website: "It will be a unique opportunity for the Brazilian people who deserve to be the hosts."

In 2003 the nine other South American countries agreed to back Brazil as the continent's only candidate and with South America due to host the 2014 World Cup under a rotation system that starts in 2010 the decision looks a formality.

Brazil have won the tournament five times and the last time the World Cup was held in South America was in Argentina in 1978.

"That means that in 2014 it will be 36 years since the World Cup was last held in our continent," Teixeira added.

"This is very important not only for Brazilian football and our people but also for South America."

Brazil has hosted the World Cup once before - in 1950 when they lost 2-1 to Uruguay in the final.

Four previous World Cups have been held in South America - Uruguay 1930, Brazil 1950, Chile 1962 and Argentina 1978.