SALVADOR (BDCi) – Despite the millions of dollars being spent on the World Cup, the Brazilian government is accused of neglecting its own people, especially its poor who have no chance of being able to afford a ticket.
But a not-for-profit organization called Football Beyond Borders has decided to hold the Favela World Cup on June 15, a one-day event that brings the soccer-tournament madness to the local residents who cannot purchase tickets to the 2014 World Cup.
The Favela World Cup will be held at the Universidade Federal de Bahia (UFBA) and will consist of eight teams going head to head for the honor of being the first Favela World Cup champions.
After the games, there will be live music and traditional home-cooked food in the Alto de Ondina favela.
Football Beyond Borders, who uses soccer as a way to combat inequality and prejudice, also hopes to contribute to the awareness of the growing local protests against greed and corruption within FIFA and the Brazilian government.
By: Diego Díaz Source: The Guardian Photo: FootballBeyondBorders.org 21 May 2014
9:30 a.m. P.D.T.