Most soccer fans are dreaming of the upcoming 2010 World Cup finals, to be held in South Africa. We at CFP have taken a great deal of time documenting the work that has gone in to the event, how the eyes of the world will be on the Zuma-led government and the onus of astounding the globe will be heavy on the shoulders of the executive branch.

We have yet to discuss the impact the 2014 World Cup will have not just to Brazilians but around the globe. Herein lies a unique opportunity for an emerging superpower to capitalize on showcasing  it’s strength similarly to the likes of China’s spectacular opening ceremony spectacle. The final list of host cities for 2014 has not yet been announced, but Brasilia looks certain to be among the chosen. This would no doubt equate to even further investment in stadiums, hotels, true infrastructure and security.

It will be an exciting year for the “B” in BRIC.  Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is likely to run for the presidency again in 2014 if an opposition candidate wins next year’s election, he said in an interview published on Friday, June 26th.

Lula, who is barred by the constitution from running for a third straight term in October 2010, said he would support likely Workers’ Party candidate Dilma Rousseff if she won next year and would not seek to succeed her in 2014.

 Despite previous hints by Lula, the remarks are the strongest indication yet the popular leader may not retire from politics after he leaves office on January 1, 2011.

When Rio de Janeiro originally had thrown it’s hat in the race for the Olympics in 2016, I ran a quick SWOT analysis to determine an early predication of its pros and cons.

The same threats continue to exist in many parts of Brazil, the risks of security a Lula or otherwise-led government will have to curb for both the tourism industry to flourish during the World Cup in ‘14 and perhaps even if the IOC gives the nod to the Latin American powerhouse for 2016.