China And Brazil Woo Each Other With Soccer Power

A game of soccer is underway beneath a hazy afternoon sun. At first glance, it looks like any other you might encounter in Brazil, a nation celebrated for its unwavering addiction to this sport. A group of teenage boys in brightly colored shirts battles for the ball, urged on by a coach who is barking instructions with the ferocity of a drill sergeant. Look again, though, and you soon spot a difference: Not one of these young and skillful players is Brazilian. They are all Chinese. China is engaged in a massive drive to try to extend its "soft power" across Latin America by investing heavily on multiple fronts, from oil and gas to seaports and hydroelectric power stations. Forging closer ties through soccer — or futebol, as Brazilians call it — is part of the mix. These Chinese players have traveled some 11,000 miles to learn how to become top-quality professional soccer stars from a country that has won five World Cups — more than any other nation. They are being trained at a soccer