Photo essay: World Cup stadium inspires Brazil slum dwellers

Sports

The aspiring soccer stars of Rio de Janeiro's historic Mangueira slum don't have far to look for inspiration.

In this Monday, June 2, 2014 photo, children attend a soccer school class on a court in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aspiring soccer stars of Rio de Janeiro's historic Mangueira slum don't have far to look for inspiration. The slum sits on a hill overlooking Brazil's temple to soccer, the fabled Maracana stadium, where legends from Pele to Neymar have played. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Monday, June 2, 2014, a youth runs with a soccer ball in a small court in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The practical obstacles in accessing the Maracana stadium, located less than half a kilometer away, to watch World Cup games haven't dampened the boys' passion for what Brazilians call the "beautiful game." (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Wednesday, June 4, 2014 photo, women visit on a rooftop where they can see Maracana stadium from the Mangueira slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With tickets to the World Cup tournament expensive and hard to come by, the gulf between Mangueira and Maracana is almost impassable. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Wednesday, June 4, 2014 photo, kids play soccer using a ball and goalpost made of paper as they wait for their turn to play soccer in a court in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mangueira's few football pitches are constantly alive with residents of all ages honing their soccer skills. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Monday, June 2, 2014 photo, a youth flies a kite in the likeness of Brazil's flag on a hillside in the Mangueira slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil is hosting this year's World Cup soccer tournament that starts next week. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Monday, June 2, 2014 photo, youth play soccer in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Less than half a kilometer separates the sprawling slum from the Maracana stadium, but residents will be following the World Cup on television due to tickets being so expensive and hard to come by. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Monday, June 2, 2014 photo, clothes hang to dry on the roof of a home in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Less than half a kilometer separates the sprawling slum from the fabled Maracana stadium, where seven World Cup matches will be played, including the July 13 final. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Monday, June 2, 2014 photo, youth play soccer in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I would like to watch a final match between Brazil and Portugal because I'm a fan of Brazil's Neymar and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo," said 13-year-old Alex Silva, a Mangueira resident. "But I know I won't get to because I don't have money to buy a ticket." (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Monday, June 2, 2014, a woman enters her shack on a hillside next to a landfill in the Mangueira slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Less than half a kilometer separates the sprawling slum from the Maracana stadium, where seven World Cup matches will be played, including the July 13 final. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Monday, June 2, 2014 photo, a youth tries to block a ball during a soccer game in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Less than half a kilometer separates the slum from Maracana stadium, but slum residents will be following the World Cup on television due to the expense. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Wednesday, June 4, 2014 photo, kids play soccer using a paper ball and goalpost as they wait for their turn to play soccer in a court in the Mangueira slum, near Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "Soccer can bring changes to a nation and it can even stop wars," said Washington Fortunato, the president of Mangueira's residents' association. "However, millions were spent on the renovation of the stadium, which didn't bring any benefits to our community. We still have health and education problems...and alleys full of garbage." (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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In this Monday, June 2, 2014 photo, children attend a soccer school class on a court in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aspiring soccer stars of Rio de Janeiro's historic Mangueira slum don't have far to look for inspiration. The slum sits on a hill overlooking Brazil's temple to soccer, the fabled Maracana stadium, where legends from Pele to Neymar have played. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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