On the trace of the 2014 FIFA World Cup: critical reflections on the production of urban space in Itaquera, São Paulo, SP

Abstract

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil gave rise to a series of studies on the production of space and tourism and the participation of mega-events in urban planning. The planning of the space aimed at hosting the FIFA World Cup reoriented the social practice of the host cities and deepened the existing segregations. This work aims to analyze the process of production of urban space as a result of mega-events based on the case study of the neighborhood of Itaquera, São Paulo, based on a critical perspective and considering the demands of the population. From the neoliberal perspective of strategic planning applied in cities, we seek to understand the production of space in the host city, from the point of view of public decisions and also from the perception of the local population. For this, interviews were conducted with residents of Itaquera. When reflecting on Itaquera, we identify that a new centrality is established, which helps us to understand the ongoing processes of space production in the region. Although part of the urban transformations took place during the city's preparation period for the mega-event, the criticism presented in this work rests on a modus operandi according to which the collective production of a fairer and more accessible space for the population effectively did not come true.