The Month of Football Has Arrived

Brazil is often considered the country of samba and football, and it would be a difficult task to decide which is more popular. Football is the main sport in Brazil, with millions of fans. Players from the smaller teams to the biggest give their heart and soul during matches.There are entire industries and traditions dedicated to football, making it one of the most important elements of Brazilian culture. Everyone has a national team they support and follow, regardless of age or gender. In fact, children are taught from an early age to cheer for one of their parents’ teams.Football in Brazil The Campeonato Brasileiro, or Brasileirão as it is known locally, is an annual football competition among Brazilian teams, which has been taking place since 1959. It has several categories, or Series; Series A includes the 20 best teams in the country, and goes down to Series D with semi-professional teams. For Series A, the teams that qualify in the top four positions advance to another tournament with the best teams from all over South America, in a tournament called Copa dos Libertadores (the Cup of Freedom).The five teams that have won the most championships in Brazil are Palmeiras (9), Santos (8), Corinthians (7), São Paulo (6), and Flamengo (5).The teams with the most fans in Brazil are: Flamengo, Corinthians, and São Paulo.Flamengo is the team with the most fans in the world, with 32.6 million. It is the most well-known team from Rio de Janeiro and has won five National Brazilian Championships.The next team is Corinthians, with about 23 million fans.The team is from São Paulo and has won the National Brazilian Championship four times.Lastly, there is São Paulo with about 15.3 million fans. It is the third most successful club in Brazilian football and one of the most victorious since the creation of Series A in 1971. São Paulo has won the National Brazilian Championship six times.World Cup TraditionDespite the widespread support for local teams, the true beauty of Brazilian football culture is seen during international events, such as the FIFA World Cup, where the entire country comes together as one to support the Brazilian national football team.During the 2010 World Cup, Google conducted an experiment comparing how many searches on Google are made in a country on a typical day with those during a World Cup game. It was no surprise that Brazil showed the largest drop during the games, with its searches halving during its football matches.This perfectly describes the Brazilian habit of stopping everything during the World Cup. Schools let children out early so they can watch Brazil’s games, and companies provide televisions in the office so employees can follow the game. Stores close, and for the 90 minutes that the Brazilian national team is playing, there is little else happening. The further the team advances in the competition, the more life comes to a halt. During the World Cup, there are shows, events, and big screens displaying the games in practically every Brazilian city. Ask any Brazilian on the street what they think of the national team’s performance, and you will likely receive a detailed response about how they are doing,and suggestions for improvements. During the World Cup, every Brazilian is a football coach!The World Cup showcases the passion of Brazilians for football and how important it is to their culture. The country is as successful as it is passionate, having accumulated five titles, more than any other nation in the world.Football in Brazil is more than a sport; it is a way of life. Therefore, if you really want to feel Brazilian and be part of the country’s culture, you might want to experience this sport – whether by watching a game on television or playing. The World Cup tournament is a great way to start.Don’t miss the opportunity. It only happens every four years.