The very fun World Cup confounded expectations while exposing some deep truths. Was it all worth it? Above, dismantling the extra seats at São Paulo’s Itaquerão Stadium. James Young Belo Horizonte It is January. The foreign journalist sits at his desk in London (or New York or Berlin) and thinks about the World Cup. The(…)
Cup weeks 3 and 4 – actually about football
The Cup went well enough that we finally got to focus on the soccer for a few weeks. Now, it’s back to the real problems. Vincent Bevins Rio de Janeiro Since early May, and really, since June 2013, we’ve seen the meaning of the World Cup shift radically, many times. Before it all started, the(…)
Manaus – stories from a distant city
World Cup matches in Manaus are long over, but did the spotlight help the city transcend its reputation as a jungle outpost? Above, photos from Leco Jucá, part of a collective aiming to shine some light on the real city. by Chris Feliciano Arnold On the Sunday of the U.S.-Portugal match in Manaus, Isaura Vitória(…)
Copa week 2 – I told you so
The government must be relieved that things have gone relatively smoothly, though a Brazil loss still strikes terror into the hearts of many here. With protests and strife in the background for now, many Brazilians have been mixing with foreigners meaningfully for the first time. James Young Belo Horizonte For the last few months the(…)
Soccer and US-Brazil relations
U.S.-Brazil relations are still strained due to allegations of high-level NSA spying and corporate espionage. In the unlikely event that the US team makes a strong showing at the World Cup this year, how would Brazilians respond? Any chances of success hinge on today’s game against Portugal. Nathan Walters Rio de Janeiro I am always surprised when(…)
Copa week 1 – men, few problems, and boos
Vincent Bevins Natal We’ve had a week of the World Cup now, and here’s my first impressions. This is not a promise to do this every week. Lots of dudes I was in Berlin for the 2006 World Cup, and I spent a few years thinking about the arrival of the 2014 World Cup, so(…)
São Paulo: A users’ guide
As the World Cup kicks off in São Paulo today, Claire Rigby presents Brazil’s big bad city and reveals its best-kept secret: a heart of gold Claire Rigby São Paulo World Cup visitors, welcome to South America’s biggest, baddest metropolis. São Paulo’s reputation precedes it like a shadow, slinking ahead with tales of hardship, violence and(…)
Brushing up on Brazil – background reading
You may have heard there is a large country called Brazil that will soon have a big soccer tournament. For those that would like to take that opportunity to brush up a bit on Latin America’s largest and most Brazilian country, I’ve compiled a list of links that make for good background reading. Most are(…)
History lessons – Will Brazil get excited about the World Cup?
Before the 1970 World Cup, many Brazilians were skeptical about the team representing the dictatorship, and others actively opposed it. Before London 2012, many were disgusted by the way the Olympics were prepared. In both cases, fans came together when the action started. Might things turn around the same way this time? Anna Jean Kaiser(…)
Holy war in Brazil
A recent controversial ruling against Afro-Brazilian religions has underlined shifts in the battle for Brazil’s religious identity. As the number of Catholics wanes, wealthy and growing Evangelical churches have used their considerable power to attack faiths such as Umbanda and Candomblé. Nathan Walters Rio de Janeiro When federal court judge Eugenio Rosa de Araujo delivered(…)
