Brazil Is Somewhat Ready For World Cup; Don't Ask About Qatar
Posted in: UncategorizedSoccer’s governing body, FIFA, isn’t at all popular in Brazil right now, but it doesn’t have much to do with the growing scandal over possible corruption in the decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup.
Brazil has enough scandals of its own, as indignant Brazilians have watched their government sink billions of dollars into soccer stadiums with enormous cost overruns in a country where basic public services like education, safety and health are starved for funds. (In Brazil, marketers’ immediate concern seems to be that Brazil actually be ready in time to host games in 12 cities, but sponsors Sony and Adidas are pressing FIFA to investigate the Qatar allegations, revealed in detail by the Sunday Times).
In an unusual move, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Dilma Rousseff, Brazil’s president, are not expected to speak at the opening of the World Cup, when Brazil faces Croatia on June 12 in Sao Paulo’s new stadium. That’s because a year ago, Mr. Blatter, with Ms. Rousseff at his side, was booed at the opening ceremony for the Confederations Cup that is a dry run for the World Cup.
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