Inside Brazil’s World Cup Carnival
I’m standing in the middle of about 75 Brazil football fans and all of them are moving their hips in a way that seems anatomically impossible to my body. Try as I might, the samba beat is not inside me so I resort to my rhythmically-challenged dance moves that I have been using to poor degree since I was old enough to take an interest in women. Think Pete Crouch doing the robot, but even more awkward and even more painful to watch.
Fortunately no one is paying the least bit of attention to me. Even if you didn’t notice that I am wearing a knockoff Brazil jersey from Indonesia that incorrectly has Adriano listed as Number 9 on the back, it would be clear that I am not one of them. The rhythm, the words, the sex appeal, it belongs to them and not to me. I’m a stranger in a strange land watching other strangers take over that strange land.
But none of this matters when you are following Brazil at the World Cup. There is no shortage of people wearing yellow, blue and green who are from the country they support, but there is an equal, if not more, from other countries. Asian faces blend in with white faces which blend in with all shades of brown and black. No one is thinking this, but it is a sea of multiculturalism and it is working. It is humanity functioning the way it should.
These are fans who have adopted Brazil as their team. These are people who simply know where to go to party. This is a Grateful Dead concert without the patchouli .
And party they do. A light rain is falling down and the early Dortmund afternoon air is chilly. No one is paying attention to this fact. The beat goes on and the dancing keeps everyone at a comfortable room temperature even though we are standing, no swaying, outside.
I abandon the dance party and walk among the throng of fans milling around three hours before kickoff. There are a smattering of people wearing Ghana colors and they are swarmed by Brazilians who seem determined to kill them with kindness. The vibe is nothing but positive. The drunks are friendly. The security guards are bored and entertaining themselves by having their pictures taken next to scantily clad Brazil fans. The only ones not feeling good are those looking for tickets. The scalpers are asking upwards of 350 Euros for tickets.
A ticket is something that I don’t have. As the game approaches I watch as the samba party moves from the pre-game staging ground towards the stadium. I also watch as there are an equal number of people staying outside the game as there are entering the stadium. I’m not the only one without a ticket. There are plenty who are here today just to take in the Brazil World Cup experience.
There are plenty who are here today that can’t get their hips to move that way either.
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Comments
By kelly | June 28th, 2006 at 3:58 am 
lol loved the article go Brazil!
Posted from 
United States
By Euler | June 28th, 2006 at 5:52 am Thank you Bob!!! Great report about our way of life! I always say that we are proud to be mixed! Your text translate our typical tendence to make friends.
“There are a smattering of people wearing Ghana colors and they are swarmed by Brazilians who seem determined to kill them with kindness.”
That’s why so many people fall in love with Brazil once they come here. We have beaches, samba and many other interesting landscapes to explore, but the real treasure you will find in our people.
Thank you very much, Bob!
By Os Davis | June 28th, 2006 at 6:13 am Excellent piece, Bob, but why do you have to make those of us stuck at home so freaking jealous?
Ah well, wiel spass!
Posted from 
Hungary
By pf | June 28th, 2006 at 6:23 am “…It is humanity functioning the way it should….”
Nice… Makes you really want to be there.
Now if Brazil plays the finals, I suggest you sell the tickets at a huge markup and fly yourself south and hit the streets of any Brazilian city to continue this harmony of joy. I can not begin to imagine what will happen then — an out of season carnival at least…
Now that’s a place to watch the final! (sigh, weep, as I won’t be going this year….)
By Euler | June 28th, 2006 at 7:09 am I just read Ronaldo’s post conference interview. One of the things he say is this: “I’d love to be in Brazil at the moment to witness what I’m sure is a huge party.”
PF and Ronaldo are absolutely right!
By Dalia | June 28th, 2006 at 7:46 am Joga Bonito!
all you Brazilian fans in the UAE, where are you watching the games?? I want to join the samba party!
Posted from 
United Arab Emirates
By Claude | June 28th, 2006 at 9:43 am Herr Euler, what does Joga Bonito mean? The beautiful game?
Posted from United States
By Dalia | June 28th, 2006 at 11:03 am play beautiful – something brazil never fails to do!
Posted from United Arab Emirates
By Euler | June 28th, 2006 at 5:09 pm I’m not German, Monsieur Claude!
Joga is a verb
Joga bonito = plays beautifully
Jogo means game
Jogo bonito = beautiful game
By Your Truly | June 28th, 2006 at 5:55 pm Oh come on Bob, I know that you have some rhythm… Dance on and have fun in Germany!!
Posted from United States
By Jesika | June 29th, 2006 at 3:10 pm hola todos!
im a NYer (of latin roots) who just returned to berlin from a crazy party in front of the Eiffel tower on tuesday night. I wanted the Mother Country to win but alas, spain continue to be the very best under-achievers
Speaking of BR, Im wearing a brazil sweater i picked up while down there & it never fails to insight a smile from ppl & a cheerful hello from the loving brazilians.
there is a brazilian restaurants n bar section in mitte. think ill watch the brazil game from there. since france beat spain, i hope brazil romps them in return! lo mehor do brasil!
so my ticket is for game57 & I cant wait to feel the energy of the intl crowd here in berlin.
viva berlin! konkret!
Posted from 
Germany
By Euler | June 30th, 2006 at 1:56 pm Nice comment Jesika! I’m very glad to know you are getting smiles because of your Brazilian sweater! 
By Brazil4ever | December 14th, 2007 at 4:01 am Brazil World Cup will be the best. Brazillian football is the best and some of there
World Cup Stadiums look fantastic…..it would be even better if it was followed by England 2018.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
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