FIFA is investing USD 1 million in a TV production internship programme for Brazilian students during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil as part of its legacy plans for the competition.

The programme gives 438 Brazilian university students the chance to gain paid professional experience with the broadcast production of the FIFA World Cup.

The students, chosen from universities in the 12 FIFA World Cup Host Cities, will fill roles ranging from information, commentary and broadcast venue assistants to gain invaluable work experience at the world’s biggest single-sport event.

“It is crucial for FIFA that the 2014 FIFA World Cup leaves a positive legacy in Brazil. This programme is one example of the tangible legacy created by the World Cup for young Brazilians,” said Niclas Ericson, FIFA’s Director of TV.

“The programme, which has featured at several World Cups, is part of FIFA’s broader legacy plans for Brazil which include Football for Hope projects, sustainability programmes, health education in schools, audio-descriptive commentaries for blind and partially-sighted fans and more.”

“FIFA pays for, and organises, the television production of the FIFA World Cup, which is then sold to several hundred Media Rights Licensees for broadcast coverage around the world,” said Ericson. “This helps to give FIFA the resources to invest about USD 550,000 every day into football development programmes in its 209 member associations, to stage a full range of men’s and women’s football tournaments each year and to support social development projects around the world.”

The interns were selected for the programme after a series of interviews and study workshops across Brazil with FIFA TV and its host broadcasting services provider HBS.

They will be based at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Rio de Janeiro and the 12 official venues across Brazill during the 12 June to 13 July competition. Between 28 and 33 students will be based at each venue, while 82 will work alongside many of the world’s biggest broadcast companies and FIFA Media Rights Licensees at the IBC in Rio.

They will receive training in the technical side of host broadcasting, learning how to communicate and to work in an international environment and gaining the basic skills necessary for future employment.

“I think it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it will surely improve my knowledge,” said Igor Silva, a student from Natal.

“I love football and it’s really amazing to be in this experience of the World Cup,” said Maria Carolina Arruda, a student from Cuiaba.

“Work experience like this can really make a difference to the prospects of any student in a highly-competitive job market,” FIFA’s Ericson said. “We hope our interns will learn and grow during the tournament so that they can use this experience as a springboard to work hard in their studies and to move on into successful careers.”