World Cup a huge success in S. Africa; Can Brazil overcome challenges as it prepares for 2014?

After a successful World Cup in South Africa, players, coaches, fans, and journalists head back to their homes. Many feel disappointed in their teams' efforts. Other countries like the Netherlands and Spain have a lot to be proud of. This World Cup has globalized the game of soccer all around the world, especially in the United States where soccer's popularity is considerably lower than in other countries.

The country of South Africa had a lot to prepare for, but they managed to pull off an incredible soccer environment as they hosted Africa's first World Cup. With the hard work of so many South Africans, there is no doubt that another country in Africa will be a host soon.

However, Brazil will face many of the same challenges South Africa went through as Brazil starts preparations for the tournament in 2014. Just like South Africa, Brazil has huge crime problems, a large income gap, cities that are spread out, and has very little infrastructure like stadiums and airports. Brazil is falling behind pace in order to be ready in four years. This country cannot afford to fall behind anymore because they also host the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the Olympics in 2016.

Brazilian soccer federation president Ricardo Teixeira and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva say that there is nothing to worry about because everything will be ready in time. Fifa is not happy with Brazil's progress so far. They still need to build new stadiums, airports, set up roads, and construct a communication system. Brazil plans to handle air travel by investing money in sixteen airports across the country. They also expect to build twelve new stadiums including one in Sao Paulo, the continent's largest city.

There are plenty of financial issues because not every country can handle a venue as big as the World Cup. It will cost Brazil an estimated $18 billion in construction, but the government says that this is a wonderful opportunity because preparation will bring in around 700,000 jobs and over 600,000 fans are estimated to come from outside of the country during the tournament.

Brazil has a huge task at hand as the last time they were the host nation was 1950. The World Cup can either bring a country into financial disaster, or it can bring huge economic success like it did in South Africa.

Soccer is a world's game. Players are training with professional teams. Coaches are preparing with players and studying film for how to perform better. Construction workers are doing all they can to get stadiums built, polished, and fields ready to play on. Do not forget about the youth. They are the future of soccer. There are soccer camps across the globe like the ones the Minnesota Thunder Academy and the University of Minnesota have that kids participate in to eventually be professional, World Cup athletes. One of the biggest soccer events for youth is the Schwan's USA Cup where youth from many countries play soccer and some of them go on to play the game in professional leagues and for national teams. The 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa has localized the global and globalized the local.