Together, they represent an economic force of over $ 24 trillion dollars. The sum of the Gross Domestic Product of the 11 countries that Latinos will mostly support in this soccer World Cup is equivalent to nearly a third of the $ 71.67 million billion the World Bank says it is worth the entire world economy.
Much more than a perfect excuse to consume beer and junk food, the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 allows us to look at The Americas – Western Hemisphere as they call it here – as the perfect team that may become one of the most competitive forces in the world.
Beyond that in sports the favorite to win The World Cup is the host – has already won the tournament five times — Brazil itself – with a $ 2.3 trillion economy and 195 million people, is the country that best represents the great continental challenge in the region: its economic inequality. In the words of Luis Henrique Cardoso, one of its former presidents, “Brazil is not a poor country: it is an unjust country.”
With a population of almost 810 million people these countries, together, can become a formidable market. Young, dynamic and modern, maybe the only equilibrium force facing Asia rising powers.
However, although it is much that unites all of our 11 national teams, there is much to work toward this shared prosperity project.
For starters, the list includes 10 countries in the Americas and one of Europe, Spain. With an economy $ 1.35 trillion and 47 million people, Spain is the latest world champion after defeating the Netherlands in South Africa 2010. By its language, its religion and its past, Spain could be part of this.
From the list, of course, the U.S. is the largest, the most populous and richest. With annual savings of $ 15.68 trillion, and 318 million people, is still the main economic and military power on the planet. But in the soccer has never been a truly great player. With more than 54 million people of Latin American origin in the country (who themselves represent a market of $ 1.5 trillion) U.S. probably will be the second best option for most immigrants living here.
Perfect case for those fans of conspiracy theories, the miraculous qualification of Mexico to this tournament could prove how everything is about the business and not the sport. Mexico ($ 1.65 trillion GDP and 118 million people) is the best-integrated economy into the North America’s project. However, with a solid historical record of poor performance Mexico’s team did badly on the previous rounds and will go to Brazil thanks to a bizarre score by the U.S. team against other team in the very last moment. Now all will be in the hands of our dearest Lady of Guadalupe.
Without rumblings, Argentina is the second best card for this teams hopes. With an economy about $710 billion and a population of 40 million the country is economically out of synch with the global forces of the economy, but almost always a giant in soccer.
Being relatively few Argentineans in the United States (just over half a million) , probably will held together with immigrants from Ecuador (economy $ 125 billion and 10 million) , Chile ( $ 281 billion and 21 million people) , Costa Rica ($ 54 billion and 4.6 million) , Honduras ($ 35 billion and 8.5 million), Uruguay ($ 52 billion and 3.2 million) and of course Colombia ($ 467 billion and 47 million).
For Latinos, following this teams maybe fun. A nice dream and also a good sport event that everybody understands and enjoy.
