Brazil 2014 - A World Cup of Joy and Controversies

The 2014 football World Cup will kick off tonight with dark clouds of controversies, protests and strikes hovering around the event relentlessly. Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil and FIFA’s governing body will keep their fingers crossed and hope against hope that the cup at the very least will be successful and safe for the 2 million fans expected to travel to witness the footballing carnival in Brazil.

Brazilian soldiers in helmets and flak jackets wielding clubs, pistols and stun guns are deployed at every corner of the host cities to make sure that the events, players and fans are well guarded, as an event of such magnitude is likely to attract series of security threats and a perfect stage for the local citizens to showcase their anger towards the ruling government.

This World Cup has attracted mixed reactions and strong criticism, with many citizens unhappy with poor public services, a stagnant economy, high unemployment, poor healthcare services and rising prices. Critics contrast $11 billion in Cup spending with the paltry amounts Brazil invests to provide basic social services and solve everyday problems.

But for the hardcore devotees of football, it is only the game that matters, nothing else. And at least the Brazil’s love of football will inevitably lead to instant support of the game and team. As best players in the world come together to showcase their scintillating skills and pure precision of tactical brilliance, this one month of non-stop action will be eye candy for each and every lover of the game.

It will also be a litmus test for many Indian football lovers because of the awkward timings of the live telecasts, with most of the matches starting after midnight or the wee hours of the morning. Be prepared to attend your office or school with sleep-deprived faces, hanging eyelids, redder and more swollen eyes with darker circles under them.

Quite apart from the skills on show, the atmosphere Brazilian fans create wherever their team plays is always fantastic – with rhythmic drumming echoing from the corners of stadia, Brazilian girls cheering in bare minimum clothing, the synchronised chanting of the joyful fans – I just can’t wait to hear referee Yuichi Nishimura blowing the whistle to start the first game between Brazil and Croatia.

And keeping the negatives away, I hope and expect that this World Cup will bring great joy to hundreds of millions of fans in Brazil and across the globe.