Brazil has the "right" to host the 2014 World Cup because of its rich footballing heritage and the fact that the last tournament held there was in 1950, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday.

Brazil, five-time World Cup winners, are the sole candidates to host football's showpiece finals in 2014 that have long been earmarked for a South American country.

"Brazil, because it has the world's best football and because it organised its last World Cup in 1950, has the right to host the World Cup," the president said in his weekly radio broadcast.

Three other World Cups have been held in South America: Uruguay 1930, Chile 1962 and Argentina 1978.

World footballing chiefs had clearly signalled their preference for Brazil in recent months, saying they were prepared to hold an accelerated process if only one candidate was ready to host the finals in 2014.

But the Brazilian bid has faced sharp criticism at home amid warnings that the country's infrastructure is not up to scratch.