What Do Brazilians Think Of The World Cup? Survey Finds Most Believe It Is Bad For Nation

Brazil may be hosting the 2014 World Cup for the first time since 1950, but the people of the South American nation are far from pleased.

Media headlines have recently been highlighting the general air of discontent amongst Brazilians surrounding the international sporting event. Now, just weeks before the sporting even will kick off on June 12, the Pew Research Center has found in a survey that 72 percent of Brazilians are dissatisfied with the way things are going in their country.

What's more, six out of ten (61 percent) of Brazilians believe hosting the event is bad for the country, as it will take money away from public services, health care and schools and a mere 34 percent believe the World Cup will have a positive effect on the economy by creating jobs. Should the World Cup lift the Brazilian economy, credit-rating agency Moody's warns that the economic boost, which would be 0.4 percent of GDP, would be "short-lived" and Spanish international development NGO InspirAction estimates that most of the 37 million Brazilians who live in poverty will see little revenue from the flood of international visitors.

Brazilians are currently protesting the upcoming international sporting event with anti-World Cup demonstrations because public money is being allocated to host the tournament. Consider this: InspirAction estimates that the 2014 World Cup will cost over $13.7 billion. While some protestors are holding up signs and others are resorting to violence, street artists are covering the walls of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo with graffiti to make a statement.

“It’s a good way to expose the country’s problems,” graffiti artist Pauo Ito told the Guardian. “If the government doesn’t want to expose these things it’s because they feel ashamed. If they feel ashamed by this they might take it more seriously -- at least, that’s our intention.”

The Associated Press recently reported that Brazilians are living illegally on land near the World Cup stadium, claiming that the construction of the arena has caused a hike in rent and have left them homeless. These homeless Brazilians are now living in poor conditions, with little food and no privacy using tarps and plastic bags as the foundation of their new residences.

"We are not against the World Cup," said Rita de Cassia, a 35-year-old nurse -- who says her family left their home after her landlord doubled the rent on her one-bedroom house nearby -- to the Associated Press. "We are against how they are trying to belittle us. They are giving priority to soccer and forgetting about the families, about the Brazilian people."

In addition to economic concern, Brazilian also harbor fear about the nation's image. According to Pew, "four-in-ten (39) say it will hurt Brazil’s image around the world while an almost equal number (35 percent) say it will help; 23 percent say it will have no impact." Their fear may be valid, as tourist safety has been a mainstream issue surrounding the games.

Recently, Brazilian news outlet Globoesporte reported that a soccer riot at Arruda Stadium had fans throwing toilet bowls from the stands during a 1-1 draw match that struck and killed a 26-year-old spectator. Last summer, fans stoned referee Otavio da Silva to death after he expelled soccer player Josenir Abreu, got into a fight with Abreu, and then stabbed him to death. More recently, violence erupted at the Pavao-Pavaozinho slum in Rio de Janeiro after the death of 25-year-old Douglas Rafael da Silva Pereira, whose dead body was discovered.

Despite the wary, FIFA's secretary general claims that safety is not a problem in the upcoming World Cup. "What has happened in Rio does not put at risk the organization of the World Cup for FIFA, at all," said Jerome Valcke, reports Daily Mail. "I'm sure that the safety of the World Cup will be at the highest level for all people involved."