Religion in Brazil

The Brazilians are religious people, that is, when it comes to futebol (soccer). You have not truly experienced a soccer game until you have had a chance to see one of Rio de Janeiro's four local clubs (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Vasco da Gama) play at Estádio do Maracanã. With a capacity of 200,000, Maracanã, the world's largest soccer stadium, opened in 1950 to host the World Cup. (The stadium has since been reconfigured to seat 100,000.) Maracanã is where Pele scored his 1,000th goal in 1969. Maracanã is where the 2014 World Cup will take place and where the 2016 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies will occur. The stadium is vast. This is Brazil's temple to the beautiful game.



After a disappointing tour to Corcovado, we decide to try to get tickets to tonight's big game, Fluminense vs. Atlético Paranaense. We have arranged these tickets through a local tour company and for 100 Reals (approx. US$60), we will get transportation, a local guide, and some of the best seats in the stadium, close to the field. When the bus doesn't show up at the appointed time, we begin to get concerned. After a few phone calls to the tour company, we learn that they had the wrong name which is why they didn't pick us up. They send a private bus to get us and take us to meet up with the rest of the group.

Outside the Stadium


Upon getting close to the stadium, you begin to realize that this is no ordinary soccer game. Throngs of supporters are dressed in the local team's colors (red, white and green...which reminds us of the Italian flag). I decide to buy a Fluminense soccer shirt so that I can blend in with the locals.

Tricolor Carioca


The devoted Fluminense fans are loud and boisterous; tonight, they are about 80,000 strong. The Fluminense Football Club was created by an Englishman, Oscar Cox, in Rio de Janeiro on July 21, 1902. For 107 years, wealthy cariocas have boisterously supported the team. They bang samba drums, wave colorful flags, sing, detonate fireworks and smoke bombs and generally throw a great party. The atmosphere during the game is absolutely electric! The local team is playing very well tonight, and they end up winning 2-1. The crowd leaves happy and content, singing and blaring horns. Below are some images and videos from the evening so that you can soak up the atmosphere of Rio's 3rd most visited tourist attraction. Enjoy!