The Latin Americans and Europeans retort that the World Cup is meant to be a showcase for the best football in the world, and the best teams still come from football's traditional centres.

ECONOMIST: Football is slowly spreading around the globe

The 62-year-old will lead the largest economy in Latin America as it prepares for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, according to additional Forbes coverage.

FORBES: Brazil Elects First Female President Dilma Rousseff

Of the 16 World Cup finals played so far, nine have gone to European nations, four to Latin America and three to North America.

BBC: Fifa 'impressed' by SA World Cup bid