With soccer\u2019s World Cup just a few months away\u2014this time in Brazil\u2014the story behind the story is beginning to emerge. The sports story will, of course, be followed by billions of fans rooting for their country\u2019s all-star teams. But for non-sports fans, there\u2019s a back story that\u2019s worth noting, too. It\u2019s the economic story\u2014the one about the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on soon-to-be-white-elephant stadiums, the displacement of slum dwellers who inconveniently occupy suddenly-valuable real estate near the venues, and the pacification of Brazil\u2019s traditionally hyper-exuberant, singing-and-dancing fans.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026there are two Brazils,\u201d says soccer writer Greg Wahl in an article in the March 4, 2014 issue of Sports Illustrated. \u201cAs the freighted month of June approaches again, how those two interact will be as compelling as anything that takes place on a soccer field.\u201d<\/p>\n

The article examines the economic excesses and inequalities, and the political and cultural impacts that underlie that country\u2019s preparations for the June 2014 World Cup. Read the full article here: \u201cLike a lingering cloud of tear gas: how do you reconcile the two Brazils?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With soccer\u2019s World Cup just a few months away\u2014this time in Brazil\u2014the story behind the story is beginning to emerge. The sports story will,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":27918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[384,304,1],"tags":[830,951],"yoast_head":"\n