Brazil goes Brazuca for World Cup

Brazil is set for a major tourism surge when the country hosts the World Cup in 2014.

And now it has been revealed Brazilians have elected to call the 2014 World Cup ball Brazuca - a nickname often given to Brazilians by nearby countries, and a slang word used to describe national pride.

As the country prepares to host the tournament, more than one million Brazilians voted on the name. Nearly three-quarters chose the winning term, with Bossa Nova and Carnavalesca also ranking highly. It's likely there will be plenty of Britons looking at options for holidays and tours in Brazil to coincide with the footballing extravaganza.

According to FIFA, the term symbolises 'emotion, pride and goodwill to all', mirroring Brazil's 'approach to football'.

Adidas, the official World Cup ball supplier since 1970, said Bossa Nova and Carnavalesca rounded off the final shortlist.

FIFA said this was the first time fans had been directly involved in the naming of the World Cup ball, which is still being developed and tested with clubs and associations worldwide.