Sao Paulo tops World Cup base requests

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's southeastern state of Sao Paulo will be home to 15 of the 32 teams competing at next year's World Cup, it was revealed on Friday.

Federations have nominated 23 cities in nine states as their preferred World Cup bases to football's governing body FIFA, daily newspaper O Globo reported.

Rio de Janeiro state is the next most popular choice with four teams followed by Minas Gerais and Bahia, with three each.

Defending champions Spain will be based in the southern city of Curitiba while hosts Brazil will stay in Teresopolis, 90km north of Rio de Janeiro city.

A January 31 deadline has been set for federations to notify FIFA of any changes.

World Cup bases by state:

SAO PAULO:

Bosnia - Guaruja

Costa Rica - Santos

Mexico - Santos

Honduras - Porto Feliz

Russia - Itu

France - Ribeirao Preto

Portugal - Campinas

Nigeria - Campinas

Iran - Guarulhos

Japan - Itu

Belgium - Mogi das Cruzes

USA - Sao Paulo

Colombia - Cotia

Cote d'Ivoire - Monte Siao

Algeria - Sorocaba

RIO DE JANEIRO:

Netherlands - Rio de Janeiro

Italy - Mangaratiba

Brazil - Teresopolis

England - Rio de Janeiro

BAHIA:

Germany - Santa Cruz de Cabralia

Switzerland - Porto Seguro

Croatia - Salvador

MINAS GERAIS:

Argentina - Belo Horizonte

Chile - Belo Horizonte

Uruguay - Sete Lagoas

PARANA:

Spain - Curitiba

South Korea - Foz do Iguacu

ESPIRITO SANTO:

Australia - Vitoria

Cameroon - Vitoria

SERGIPE:

Greece - Aracaju

RIO GRANDE DO SUL:

Equador - Viamao

ALAGOAS:

Ghana - Maceio