The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
by Stuart Wainwright
by Stuart Wainwright
Brazil, the world’s fifth largest country by land and population size, is also the record holder for the most FIFA World Cup wins: five. Seeing as there have only been 19 FIFA World Cups since its inception in 1930, it is quite appropriate that the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be hosted in Brazil. From 12th June until 13thJuly, the best football nations in the world will compete in a jam- packed schedule to crown the world champions.
While every FIFA World Cup is a celebration, somehow I think this one may be a little different. Beach parties, festive city streets, and football fanatics from Brasilia to Rio de Janeiro could put this year’s event on par with South Africa’s utterly epic 2010 World Cup (if we do say so ourselves). Though we put on a good show four years ago, sadly Bafana Bafana didn’t qualify this time round.
Regardless, there are plenty of reasons to be flying across the globe if you’re a football fan. The Brazilian passion for football and its flamboyant people, mixed with the greatest sporting event in the world, will ensure that FIFA World Cup Brazil will be remembered for a long time to come. No doubt the pricey tickets will be worth it if you’re lucky enough to have them in hand. Over 600,000 fans are expected to swarm to Brazil to experience the South American football culture, and as many as 700 million will tune in to watch the final from across the world.
On the field, teams from 32 nations will have to adjust quickly to the sweltering Brazilian temperatures and the hot afternoon kick-off times. Brazil’s climate varies considerably from the tropical north, with temperatures averaging 25 °C, to the temperate zones, with temperatures of up to 40 °C. The coastal cities of Rio de Janeiro (where the final will be held), Recife and Salvador can get extremely hot, while plateau cities, which will also host matches, such as São Paulo (the first port of call for the opening ceremony), Brasília and Belo Horizonte have mild climates. And with stadiums spread across this vast country, many teams will also have to contend with hectic travel schedules between games.
Every one of the previous winning nations will be in Brazil this year, which means that the group stages will be fascinating to watch, and few teams have an easy road to the knockout stages. One of the only exceptions is Brazil themselves, who are a global favourite, whether playing on home ground or not. The home ground advantage shouldn’t be sniffed at, though, as at least six host countries have won the FIFA World Cup before.
Argentina will undoubtedly provide footage for the highlights video with an exciting attack that can score goals from the smallest of gaps. The German defence will provide stubborn opposition, but do they have the finesse to score the goals required to win? Finally, the defending champions, Spain, have put together a strong team in all aspects. Each with a style of their own, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Spain are firm favourites with the bookies.
Unfortunately, while everything appears set for a great event, behind the scenes all is not well. Earlier this year FIFA President Sepp Blatter was quoted as saying: “Brazil just found out what the scale of work means and has started work much too late. No country has been so far behind in preparations since I have been at FIFA, even though it is the only nation which has had so much time – seven years – in which to prepare.”
Despite Brazil spending more than double the amount of money ($14 billion) that any previous host nation has spent on the event, the reality is that many projects are behind schedule and some won’t be ready for the kick-off. This has fuelled the fire for many Brazilians, as they feel that their government is mismanaging funds. With this said, the Brazilian population will benefit from a number of improvements long after the crowds have gone, including new stadiums, a new nationwide bus fleet, improved airports, 4,300 km of renewed highways, improved rail services, and new hotels. All of this will come in handy when Brazil hosts the Summer Olympics in 2016.
Undoubtedly, some visitors have started to worry about their safety amidst the political instability, but FIFA has ensured fans that there will be one police officer for every 50 spectators at matches, as well as state-of-the-art unmanned security robots and facial recognition systems.
If unrest concerns visitors, then it is probably best that they get out of the cities and head to the real highlights of Brazil: the wetlands, beaches, small colonial towns, and of course the famous Amazon Rainforest and River.
But no trip to Brazil would be complete without a visit to Rio de Janeiro, sipping caipirinhas on the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. For a true taste of culture, the bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa offers arty cafés and colonial charm. Cristo Redentor (the statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro) is the South American equivalent of the Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty, and is an absolute must-see. Whether visitors arrive to see the football or not, they are in for the party of a lifetime in Brazil!
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