FIFA has agreed to increase from 10 to 12 the number of Brazilian cities that will host the 2014 World Cup, a spokesman for the Brazilian Football Confederation said.

The confederation convinced the executive committee of football’s world governing body to increase the number because Brazil is such a big country, the spokesman said.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to discuss the matter with the media.

According to the O Globo newspaper, five of the 18 potential host cities will definitely stage World Cup games - Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and Porto Alegre.

The northeastern cities of Fortaleza, Recife, Salvador and Curitiba in the south are “almost certain” sites, the newspaper said, adding that the remaining three cities will be chosen from Manaus, Belem, Cuiaba, Goiania, Campo Grande and Florianpolis.

Natal, Maceio and Porto Velho will definitely not be chosen, O Globo said.