Was the 2014 FIFA World Cup a blessing or a curse for Brazil? And could the hosting states benefit from the tournament in an economic recession? This study investigates whether the World Cup was a catalyst for Brazil’s economic downturn, after a prosperous decade of poverty reduction,...

Is the FIFA World Cup a tool for economic development? Should developing countries vie to host it for any price? This article studies if it makes a difference to economic growth whether a developing country hosts the event. The World Cups 1962 – 2018 are investigated, looking at the first and...