This book examines the urban legacy of the 2014 football World Cup in
Brazil across the seven cities that hosted matches. The authors, all
experts and natives of South America, analyse the context and impacts of
hosting the World Cup for each of the host cities. The chapters use a
range of background data and local knowledge and understanding to
critically assess what benefits or disadvantages came along with bidding
for and hosting World Cup final games, and importantly considers who the
beneficiaries where and are.
It further provides detailed empirical evidence that highlights a
growing trend in sporting mega events: the overestimation of benefits
and an underestimation of costs involved in hosting. The book adds to
the critical literature that provides a counterweight to governments'
aspirations to use mega events for the purposes of development and/or
globalization, irrespective of the views of their citizens.