Abstract：Watching sports events has become a big part of people’s recreational life. The best example of this phenomenon is the FIFA World Cup, held every four years. Football has emerged as the ＂sport of the world.＂ In 2014 the 20th FIFA World Cup was hosted by Brazil. World Cup football is becoming increasingly commercialized. It provides both economic benefits and an excellent stage for cultural interactions. For this study, literature review and data summarization were introduced to elaborate a number of effects, including: 1. The positive economic benefits brought to Brazil; 2. Total revenues for FIFA and prize money for participating teams; 3. Business opportunities for official sponsors; 4. Publicity and business for environment-friendly jerseys made in Taiwan; 5. Skyrocketing sales for the Taiwan Sports Lottery; and 6. Hidden benefits and cultural immersion, including: (1) Cultural images of mascots and official balls; (2) Conveyance of cultural images through the opening and ending performances; (3) Realization of sporting and competition culture on the pitch; and (4) The popularity of pop culture among fans around the world. These four points offer a springboard for reflection. The World Cup provides economic and cultural development, international visibility and cultural diplomacy, and boosts every aspect of tourism. The value and significance of organizing this event are high. We anticipate that Russia’s 2018 World Cup will be even more exciting and profitable. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is also looking forward to future bids for major international events, and can use past events as a reference during overall consideration and planning. (Full text)