Why did Brazil decide to host the World Cup and spend so much money on frivolities like building a stadium instead of investing those funds on National priorities such as healthcare, education and housing?

Ever since we lost the 1950 World Cup Brazil wanted a new chance to be champion at home. I was born in 1980. For as long as I can remember there were talks of hosting a World Cup here. If I remember correctly, Brazil did not try to host the World Cup in 2010 in exchange for support for 2014. It was easy. We did not have any competition. Another World Cup here was long due. The problem was that since the beginning, the government guaranteed that all the stadiums would be made with private funding, so the government could spend money on infrastructure on the cities hosting the cup. That was an excellent deal. We would have better cities for us AND we would have the biggest competition in all sports (at least for Brazilians, anyway). But that didn´t happen. The stadiums were built using tax money. OUR MONEY. They've built stadiums at places that don´t have football teams, or any big events at all. They won´t serve for a single purpose after the Cup. Not to mention that they were very expensive, with corruption having a large part in this. Many of the infrastructure plans for the cities weren´t made. So what was an excellent opportunity to help the cities and make a name for Brazil to the World turned into lies and corruption. Nobody is happy. Don´t get me wrong. I think that regardless of protests we are going to make one hell of a party over here. But is sad that we spend all that money for nothing.

Because the Cup benefits the current government providing excellent oppprtunities for corruption and empowerment. The rest is only demagogy. Simply talking: follow the money!

Are you Brazilian? I've been watching and reading from close friends from Brazil and regular comments in forums how a large group of Brazilians are looking at the World Cup and this negative look at this world sport event, like is some kind of curse or burden that somebody else imposed on the good people of Brazil. I live in Mexico in a part where we have A LOT of security problems I hear and read every single day a lot of negative output on our government actions and with a good reason. Before you tell me how wrong I am. I want you to know that I am a regular citizen with no political intentions but I don't understand why to keep such attitude towards this event. Brazil is an economic power house on the rise, in the early 90's there was a lot of poverty and social crisis maybe there is a lot now days but it can't be that Brazil from back then. You got to understand that wealth and economic success do not pop out of this wonderful ideas that some dissident politicians throw as public opinions in the media. Hosting the World Cup is a great chance for the government to create more wealth as well as employment. Brazilians complain a lot of the image people in the outside have from their country with bitter remarks as "we are not only samba, carnival, football and rain forest" I think is kinda sad you reject the positive things for which people from other countries could feel attracted to Brazil. You want people to change their views from Brazilians and Brazil but you don't want to show us. Every single country in our planet (even the rich ones) have problems and inequality, the really wealthy ones are the minority (yes even in Norway or Dubai) you go look there and you will find poor, needing and forgotten by society people living in poverty. But that's not the point of a mayor sporting event. Is a way to make the world turn to look to a country and put pressure in the authorities of that country to make an effort and step up. But is also a challenge for their people. So cheer up my friend because this world event that unites the nations of the world around a ball and 22 guys playing in a field is indeed a moment to celebrate and party. Besides the actions of the people shouldn't be on "why are we hosting this" rather than "what is the government going to do with the money we will make from this" that's where you should focus, because the event is already on it's way to begin.