Book Description

Never in the last 110 years, has the World Cups’ trajectory been disconnected from the socioeconomic reality of the world’s nations whether they have taken part in the championship or not. Even before becoming a multibillion dollar event that involves billions of people as well, this international football championship, which takes place every four years, has been marked by countless ups and downs in the international political scenario, doubts and tragedies, growth and technical evolution, social mobilization and use of vested powers. The landmark of a World football championship as an independent event, aside from the Olympic Games, was firstly thought of at FIFA’s very foundation, in 1904, but effectively launched after the First World War, being the first Host country (Uruguay) defined in 1929, during FIFA’s congress, which was held in Barcelona, being the atmosphere of yet intense geopolitical unrest. At that meeting, it was decided that the championship should be held every four years, alternating with the Olympic Games, although with a two year difference between the two events. Initially the hosting locations would be alternated among the participating continents – Europe and South America – in which all the affiliated nations could take part, in a process of eliminatory competitions, being the final phase played by the winners of the eliminatory phase. In 2014’s Brazil, the World Cup has come to its twentieth edition, having its popularity and market rates reached stratospheric heights. Today, football has reached out to over four billion people, more that 60% of the world’s population, comprehending about 500 million jobs related to the practice and the commercialization of this sport. Billion dollar publicity and broadcasting contracts from all kinds of media are behind the worshiping of the football idols. The meeting of the cream-of-the-crop players in this most magnanimous event – which gathers all the great stars in a marathon of games that lasts thirty days – provides us with an event of the uppermost expression of sports related vigor which mankind is capable of.