World Cup

Good Grades in Brasilia

African Students Dig Into Academics in Brasilia

By Nicolas Pinault   |

Brazil is not only a dream destination for soccer fans from all over the world. The emerging power is also receiving more and more students from Africa. The country is more accessible than the U.S. or Europe, and African students can find better infrastructure here than they can at home.

With almost 40,000 students, the University of Brasilia is an institution in Brazil’s capital city.  Among them are a hundred or so Africans who came to try the Brazilian adventure.  Most of them are from Angola or Cape Verde, but you also find some Francophones from Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Read more here.

 

 

Loud, Proud and Not Afraid to Show It

Just Who Exactly Are the Loudest Fans At The World Cup?

By Mike Eckel   |

The World Cup attracts the most passionate and loyal fans in the world. Supporters from the United States, a country with a small but rising fan base, are out to prove that they are just as enthusiastic as any other country.

Rio de Janeiro has hosted four World Cup games so far, three of which included South American teams. The city has, at times, been swarmed by Argentines, Chileans and Ecuadoreans. But the strongest constant international presence here in Rio has been the Americans.

Read here for more on Brian Allen’s VOA investigation:

 

 

The Crying Game

Mexico’s Coach: Con Mucho, Mucho Gusto

By Mike Eckel   |

To say Miguel Herrera wears his emotions on his sleeve would be an understatement. In fact, the coach for Mexico’s national team might very well wear his emotions on every sleeve, pant leg and other part of his body all the time.

Colorful, flamboyant, intense, Herrera long been known for a full-throated style of managing El Tri.

Check out the reception that goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa gets during Monday’s 3-1 victory over Croatia, a win that qualified the Mexicans for the Round of 16 knockout round:

Or this one:

Or this one (despite appearances, Herrera’s is NOT in fact tackling defender Paul Aguilar):

This hashtag topic on microvideo blogging site Vine also some excellent excepts from Monday’s match, as well as a couple other tidbits from Brazil-Cameroon match, Netherland’s win over Chile and one very, very scary looking Dutch fan…

VINE POSTSCRIPT:

There’s been one particularly poignant image that’s been bouncing around the ‘Net from the emotional US-Portugal match on Sunday. (In case you were living in the cave somewhere, the two sides played to a draw after Portugal scored in the final seconds). It’s unclear when exactly during the match the image was captured, or whether the subject’s face is emotional with agony or joy.

Regardless, it’s a great illustration of what The Beautiful Game does for people.  

 

In The Shadow of World Cup, Protesters Press Demands

By Nicolas Pinault   |

protests-world-cup-smaller-persistentIt’s been nearly a week since the World Cup kicked off in Brazil.

But the opening match in San Paulo on June 12 did not curtail the protests that started before the tournament.

While they are smaller than before – usually a few hundred people – the protesters continue to say ‘no’ to FIFA and the World Cup, demanding the government make more investments in health or education.

Recife, one of the 12 World Cup venues, is relatively calm and its population is watching the events in Rio de Janeiro and San Paulo from a distance. This is where VOA’s Nico Pinault went to meet them.