Blog post published on DipNote, the U.S. State Department Official Blog on June 5, 2014.
Brazil is known throughout the world for its sandy beaches, friendly people, and unbridled passion for soccer. So it’s fitting that this year Brazil will play host to the world’s largest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup. Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from all over the globe will make the trek to South America’s largest country to support their teams and join Brazilians in this immense celebration of the world’s most popular sport. Never ones to miss an opportunity to cheer on the red, white, and blue, American citizens are the largest foreign ticket holders expected to attend the games…even Vice President Biden will be joining us to cheer on the U.S. Men’s National Team during their opening game in Natal! Here at the U.S. Mission to Brazil, we are ready and waiting to welcome our fellow Americans to this exciting event.
The U.S. Mission is made up of the Embassy in Brasilia, as well as Consulates in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Recife. In addition to these four posts, we will have teams in all other World Cup host cities ready to assist Americans in case of emergency. We will be answering 24/7 emergency numbers, monitoring our email WorldCupACS@state.gov, and constantly updating our EmbaixadaEUA Facebook page and @USCitsBrazil Twitter feed. Although there are plenty of resources for Americans here in Brazil, the best way to make sure you have a safe and pleasant trip is by preparing before you come.
The State Department has many of helpful resources to help you get ready for your trip, including travel information at travel.state.gov, which provides important information on Brazilian Visa requirements as well as health, transportation, and safety tips. As with any overseas trip, the best way to stay informed and receive up-to-date notifications is to enroll with our Smart Traveler program at STEP.state.gov. We’ve even added a new World Cup tab on our website that has all the information you need in one place. Take a look at my welcome video for more info on all the resources available for your trip!
As you prepare to make the trip to Brazil to join one of the most exciting global events of our lifetime, we hope you will take a moment to look at all the resources available from the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Brazil. My team in Brazil and our colleagues at the State Department are working hard to make sure American Citizens are safe, secure, and well-prepared for their journey. So, as they say here in Brazil, Bem vindo—Welcome!
Liliana Ayalde serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil.
