Kubitschek was seen as a starch developmentalist. People remember him here in Brazil because of big infrastructure topics - namely the construction of the new capital Brasília and several interstate roads, also fueled by the start of the national auto industry. He was a strong name in politics, little rejection from the masses and loved by corporations, unlike his pre-coup, more populist successors (Jânio Quadros and João Goulart). If democracy were to have returned in the late 60s, he was the most likely candidate.

Soccer has a long history in Brazil, but it really started playing on politics in 1970 - with the military president showing his support to the national team; and the hype on being the first nation to win the tournament three times, a fitting distraction during the most heinous moment in the dictatorship.