FIFA will retain the same number of World Cup places for each confederation for the 2014 tournament but Brazil will take the hosts' spot given to South Africa for 2010.

South America has just 10 countries in its confederation CONMEBOL and already had four definite places without the hosts' spot, and the chance of another via a play-off.

Unlike previous tournaments, there will be a draw to decide who South Americans will face - for the last World Cup it was fixed in advance that a South American country would play one from CONCACAF, and an Asian country play the leading country from the Oceania confederation.

It means Europe will continue to have 13 spots for the World Cup in Brazil.

CONCACAF, the confederation of countries in north and central America and the Caribbean, had asked FIFA to be handed an automatic spot instead of a play-off but this was turned down by the executive committee.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter told a news conference: "Naturally CONCACAF were not so happy but it is impossible in our world to make everyone happy.

"But because CONCACAF were not so eager to play off again with CONMEBOL (South America) there will be a draw for the four teams in the play-off."

The slow pace of preparations in Brazil continues to be a concern however after Blatter admitted that FIFA still did not know where the opening match of 2014 would be played.

Local organisers have put forward Sao Paulo, but planning permission has not even been given for the stadium let alone any building work started.

Blatter said: "We have had the first meeting of the organising committee and definitely it is not yet decided where the opening match will be played.

"For the time being there is not yet a stadium ready in Sao Paulo or Rio and perhaps they will not even be ready in time for the Confederations Cup in 2013.

"The decision on the use of the stadium will definitely be a sporting decision, not a political one."

FIFA's financial report shows the body made a surplus of 631million US dollars in the period 2007-10, including the World Cup in South Africa.

That is 32million US dollars down on the 2003-6 figures, when the World Cup was held in Germany, but overall revenues have shown a 59% rise on four years ago to 4.189billion US dollars.

"The World Cup in South Africa was a great financial success," said FIFA deputy secretary general Markus Kattner.

Meanwhile, Wales' hopes of hosting either the under-17 or under-20 World Cups in 2015 have been dashed.

FIFA's executive committee instead chose New Zealand to host the under-20 tournament and Chile for the under-17 event.

Wales also lost a bid in January to host UEFA's 2013 European Under-21 Championships.

They were also up against Russia and Tunisia for the under-17 World Cup while Tunisia and Peru were the other bidders for the under-20 tournament.

The 2015 women's World Cup has been awarded to Canada after the only other bidders Zimbabwe withdrew.

FIFA's decision to allow South America a possible six slots was blasted by Chuck Blazer, the FIFA executive committee member from the USA and secretary general of CONCACAF.

Blazer also questioned why Africa should have more spots than CONCACAF given their relatively poor showing in the World Cup.

He said on his Twitter account: "Really not happy with today's FIFA Exco meeting. Everyone protects their own interests rather than doing what's right. Convenient decisions.

"The last two times we [USA] hosted, 1986 & 1994, we didn't get an extra spot. Why should South America?

"In 2010, Africa 6 [places] and only Ghana advance in Africa. Why do they have 5 and we 3.5? We advanced 67%."