There’s no doubt that Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup fever has gripped Brazilians and the millions of soccer fans around the globe – all gearing up for the 64 matches, whether watching the games live in one of the stadia, at one of the FIFA Fan Fests, at home or at one of the many public viewing centres around the globe.
For a third consecutive World Cup tournament, FIFA announced that it would be holding FIFA Fan Fests in each of the 12 host cities. Prominent examples are the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which already held a Fan Fest in 2010, Sao Paulo’s Vale do Anhangabau, and Brasilia’s Esplanada dos Ministérios, with the Congress in the background.
That’s what the FIFA World Cup is about: world-class action on the pitch, celebrations of fans across the globe, all united by football and the most coveted trophy in the world.
Over the 32 days of the tournament, billions of people will watch the programmes of more than 600 broadcasters around the world.
This 20th edition will run from June 12 to July 13, and will be the second time Brazil hosted the competition – the previous being in 1950.
Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 after FIFA decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since 1978 in Argentina, and the fifth time overall.
The national teams of 31 countries advanced through qualification competitions that began in June 2011 to participate after a gruelling 820-match qualifying campaign with Brazil in the final tournament.
A total of 64 matches are to be played in 12 cities across Brazil in either new or rehabilitated stadia, with the tournament beginning with a group stage. For the first time at World Cup finals, the matches will use goal-line technology.
This edition will be the most expensive FIFA World Cup in history.
The tournament is estimated to cost the Brazilian government a whopping $14 billion (about N2.25 trillion). FIFA is expected to spend $2 billion on staging the finals, with its greatest single expense being the $576 million staked on the cup.
Although organisers originally estimated $1.1 billion, a reported $3.6 billion has already been spent on stadium works. Five of the chosen host cities have brand new venues built specifically for the World Cup, while the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in the capital, Brasilia, was demolished and re-built, with the remaining six being extensively renovated.
An additional $3 billion has been earmarked by the Brazilian government for investment in infrastructure and projects relating to the 2014 World Cup. However, the failed completion of many of the proposed works has provoked discontent among some Brazilians.
The Brazilian government has pledged that N144 million will be invested into security forces and that the tournament will be “one of the most protected sports events in history”.
With the host country, all world champions since the first World Cup in 1930 (Argentina, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Uruguay) qualified for the competition.
Spain, the defending champion, defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the 2010 edition to win its first title. The previous four editions staged in South America were all won by South American teams.
At Brazil 2014, the participating teams and the millions of fans – who eagerly prepared for months, and some even years, to make their dream happen: to experience a FIFA World Cup and live in the country of the five-time world champions that is well known for celebrations – will have a memorable experience.
The FIFA Confederations Cup provided a foretaste of what to expect.
For the 736 players, this represents the ultimate goal: playing at the FIFA World Cup representing their teams, playing proudly for their nations.
For many, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They deserve the best conditions and a warm reception in the host country.