The ball had barely started rolling in this year’s FIFA World Cup, and already tourist industry entrepreneurs were setting their sights on 2014, when the football championship will be held in Brazil. The event’s impact on the Brazilian economy will be huge, ranging from the coming of 600,000 foreigners to the country in 2014, to an increase of 47.9 billion reais (US$ 29.9 billion) in the GDP.

If the tournament is well organized, with modern stadiums, good lodging and transport services, safety for walking the streets and, therefore, tourists happily returning home, then the Cup’s results will last for years and years. In other words, before, during and after it, the Cup will be a landmark event for the country.

According to the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, in 2014, 2 million jobs may be created in the industry, and 73 million passengers may arrive in the country. (more…)

Brazil's Luis Fabiano. Source: Reuters

Readers of one of Brazil‘s biggest newspapers were surprised to read today that their beloved national team had been knocked out of the World Cup, the day after Dunga’s side had marched into the quarter-finals.

An advert wrongly posted in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper by a major supermarket chain expressed sadness at Brazil‘s “elimination” and told fans they could at least look forward to 2014, when the South American country will host the tournament.

“The team exited the World Cup, but not our hearts,” said the advertisement for the Extra supermarket. “Thanks Brazil, we’ll see you in 2014,” it added. (more…)