An opinion poll released today by FIFA, partly in conjunction with the Brazilian Government, suggests 58.2 per cent of those questioned were eagerly awaiting staging the World Cup in 2014 for the first time in 64 years with only 7.3 per cent saying the same about the Olympics in 2016.

But Brazilian officials insisted there would be no sense of overkill by the time the Olympics hit Rio.

"You need to remember that the World Cup is before the Olympics, it's being discussed every day," said the tournament's communications chief Rodrigo Paiva.

"It's only natural to talk more about it.

"Also don't forget it involves an entire country whereas the Olympics it's only in Rio."

With Brazilian Gross Domestic Product likely to rise by 1.5 per cent as a result of the World Cup, much is being made of the economic benefit of the tournament in a country that is already the seventh richest in the world.

But in the background there lurks the constant question of safety and security, just as in South Africa last year.

Reporters attending the World Cup draw here on Saturday (July 30) are constantly advised not to travel alone at night but Paiva defended Brazil's record.

"Like all large events there are positive and negative points," he said.

"Regarding the issue of urban violence, we have taken great strides in reducing crime.

"The progress that's been made is remarkable.

"Remember what was said about South Africa, how there were cases of rape and violence.

"I was there twice with Brazil, for the Confederations Cup and the World Cup, and there were no records of rape and robbery.

"For a long time, statistics for Brazilian tourism has dropped but with the World Cup we hope people will want to return and see Brazil as they used to.

"We want to bring the new Brazil to the world.

"This is the greatest legacy the World Cup could give."

Economists estimate that 250,000 new jobs will be created and $3 billion (£1.8 billion/€2.1 billion) generated by tourism.

But perhaps the most telling statistic in terms of the World Cup's reach was the fact that 3.2 billion people - almost half the world's population - watched the 2010 finals at some point.

Having said that, FIFA's assertion that not a single country on earth missed out does, frankly, take some believing.

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