Grand Thornton has touched upon the expectations entrepreneurs have from the World Cup held in San Paulo.

The report shows that Brazilian business enthusiasm for hosting the tournament has plummeted over the past two years. However, while few business leaders predict increased investment or increased profits as a result of Brazil hosting the competition, there is hope that infrastructure improvements and a greater influx of tourists will prove enduring legacies.

The IBR reveals that the proportion of Brazilian business leaders who believe hosting the World Cup would translate into faster economic growth has fallen from 80% in Q1-2012 to just 33% by Q1-2014.

Similarly, just 11% of businesses planned to make extra investment for the tournament, compared to 23% in 2012. A further 19% of businesses expect their profits to rise, with 52% expecting the tourism sector to see the biggest pick-up in activity.

 “Business enthusiasm for the World Cup has certainly ebbed away as the economic situation in Brazil has worsened over the past 24 months. Initially there was much hope in the business community that the infrastructure investments required to get the country ready to receive 600,000 visitors this summer (not to mention those coming for the Olympic Games in 2016) would boost the long-term growth prospects of the economy. This should have been an opportunity to place Brazil in the international ‘shop window’, but instead international media attention has been focused on delays in stadia construction and public protests against both the government and FIFA”, said Grant Thornton Brazil Partner Madeleine Blankenstein.

Almost a third of business leaders believe stadium construction in their city has disrupted daily life and just 40% believe the stadium will be well used once the tournament is over.

You can get acquainted with Banks.am’s reference to the economic component of the World Cup here.