BRASILIA: Some 75 per cent of Brazilians consider the high cost of hosting the upcoming 2014 World Cup as unnecessary, according to a new poll out Tuesday.
The MDA survey released by the National Transportation Confederation found that only 13.3 per cent see the expenses as adequate, while just 7.3 per cent thought of them as insufficient.
Meanwhile, 80.2 per cent said the investment in stadiums could have been better spent.
According to government estimates, Brazil is shelling out an estimated $11 billion for the month-long football extravaganza that kicks off on June 12.
The high costs, coupled with a need for improvement in the health, education and transportation sectors, led to mass protests in June during the FIFA Confederations Cup.
The protests have continued to some extent, with 85.4 per cent of survey respondents saying they believe there would be demonstrations during the World Cup. However, 82.9 per cent said they would not be taking to the streets.
As for the country’s prospects on the pitch, 56.2 per cent said they believed Brazil would win the tournament. But more than a third, or 34.6 per cent, said they did not think so.
The poll saw 2,002 people interviewed nationwide Feb 9-14. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points. — AFP