Brazil turn football into art. "It is not about fighting to the death," said their greatest player Pele. "You have to play beautifully."

Last night, they claimed their first victory in their 2022 World Cup campaign. Brazil has won the trophy five times. But they have not won for 20 years.

The pressure is on for star striker Neymar. "It is my biggest dream," he says. And with the best side in years, he wants to seize this chance.

But Brazil is not just about football. It is the world's fifth-largest country, home to 217 million people. Portuguese is the official language, but there are also 304 indigenousEthnic groups who are the original or earliest-known inhabitants of an area or country: for example, Native Americans in the USA. groups and the largest population of people with African ancestry outside Africa.

"Brazil is back", says president-elect Lula da Silva. For years, experts said Brazil was "the country of the future". Now its time has come.

Lula was speaking at the COP27The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP). climate change summit in Egypt. Sixty per cent of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil and must be protected to slow global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.. Lula wants to end deforestation by 2030.

That may be hard. The rainforest is rich in resources. Brazil mines iron, drills oil and farms beef. Protecting the Amazon may make Brazilians poorer.

But Brazil has a secret weapon: tourism. It has over 2,000 tropical beaches. Millions celebrate the Rio de Janeiro carnival. The head of tourism is targeting football fans in Qatar. "With our beauties on display", he says, Brazil can boost tourism.

Brazil still has many problems. Poverty is high. The richest 1% earn the same as the poorest 50%, and millions live in slum neighbourhoods called favelas.¹

CorruptionWhen someone abuses their power for personal gain. It often involves bribery. is a major problem. President Bolsonaro was accused of stealing public money.

In Qatar, Brazil hopes to retake the football crown. Back home, the samba nation may be about to conquer the world.

Yes: We already love their food, music and football. Now Brazil can take leadership on the environment, tackling poverty and fighting corruption.

No: Brazil is not the country of the future. It is a politically divided country with complex problems that stop it from reaching its dreams.

Or... Every country has its strengths and weaknesses. World-class footballers and samba musicians escape the favelas, but an unequal society still keeps millions in poverty.