Salvador Brazil's Soccer Cities

Brazil's African soul, where two continents unite in one city.

But in the Fonte Nova, the planet's greatest stars

will collide during the World Cup.

Once the nation's capital, Salvador was the main entry

point for slaves taken from all over Africa.

The legacy passed down through generations and endures today.

The fluid flow of Capoeira, both a dance and a fight.

Born out of slavery,

it was a form of resistance against colonial masters.

TRANSLATION: When immigrants came to Brazil,

they saw the possibility of using

these movements as a way of stopping physical aggression.

There is African DNA in Brazilian footballers.

You can see Capoeira in the way they move.

The World Cup doesn't resolve Salvador's problems

like sewage treatment, security and education.

TRANSLATION: I love football.

I live only 2km from the stadium but I don't have proper access to it.

Sadly, this IS a violent city and racism is commonplace.

Public services struggle.

A subway lies dormant, still not completed after 17 years.

Despite these challenges, the people here are famed for their

exuberance, often with a spring in their step.

Salvador has a complex make-up of faiths.

This offers another glimpse of the past.

Over the centuries,

the African religion of Candomble had to be disguised to survive.

Many followers pretended to be Catholic,

but now the faiths co-exist peacefully.

In this party, two religions come together.

People celebrate both St Barbara and Candomble's Iansa.

United in faith and colour.

TRANSLATION: 80 years ago, no-one would talk about

being descended from slaves.

It was like a stain in someone's life.

But through religious education,

we learnt that we are all brothers and sisters.

The slaves came from Africa and stayed,

resulting in the mix of cultures that is the Brazilian race today.

-TRANSLATION:

-The best thing about Salvador is carnival.

The worst is racism.

TRANSLATION: I'm a doctor

and the situation in public hospitals is chaotic.

Could THIS be the secret of Brazilian football?

They call this Barbinadera.

It's football, but played round the steep streets of Salvador.

Many of the Brazilian greats started improvising just like these guys.

BOYS SHOUT

There are troubling issues that need to be sorted in this town,

but there's still plenty to cherish.

During the World Cup, this city is determined to triumph.