BRAZIL’S DEFEAT: BEYOND FOOTBALL

The High Cost of Hosting FIFA's World Cup

by Andrew Kennis, Americas Program

RIO DE JANEIRO — While smoking his tobacco pipe in front of his small cinder-block home toward the top of his native Vidigal, a sprawling favela overlooking some of Rio de Janeiro’s most luxurious neighborhoods, Jamil Jorge offered his thoughts on Brazil hosting the World Cup in the midst of the tournament: "The World Cup only benefits people and institutions with money, not people like me."

Jamil had just finished meditating during a breezy ocean-side night at one of the many stunning lookouts that Vidigal offers. The public viewpoint lies at the foot of one of the many homes of none other than David Beckham—reflective of the uneven and volatile development Brazil has undergone over the last decade alone. Recent years have brought tens of millions into the middle class but left plenty of others behind, as suggested by a low 85th ranking in the United Nations Human Development index.

When asked about the FIFA (International Federation of Football Association, in English) and its motives in relation to the Cup, Jorge grinned and made the universal gesture for money with his hands. "Someone is profiting from this World Cup, but it isn’t me… or our favela."

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