Blatter did not mince his words, stating, “Brazil has just realized what it is. They started much too late. It is the country furthest behind since I was at FIFA, and yet it is the only one that had so much time – seven years – to prepare.” He highlighted that construction sites in Brazil faced numerous strikes, with unions leveraging the World Cup exposure to demand new social benefits.
Despite the challenges, Blatter displayed optimism but acknowledged the likelihood of demonstrations and protests. He stated, “I am an optimist, not a fearful person. So I’m not afraid. But we know, there will be demonstrations, protests again.” Referring to the Confederations Cup, he mentioned that social networks played a role in sparking protests, and during the World Cup, there might be more concrete and structured demands. However, Blatter believed that football, being a religion for Brazilians, would be protected.
It’s worth noting that Blatter’s assurance lacked a concrete basis, considering the protests in June of the same year when thousands took to the streets to protest against public service quality and stadium construction expenses. The potential for protesters to use the World Cup as a platform to voice their discontent remained a significant concern.
