Opinion: Passionate Brazilians attending Club World Cup make up for empty stadiums
Plenty of high energy despite the small crowds
Brazilian soccer fans are celebrated around the world for their unparalleled passion, creativity and deep cultural connection to the game.
What sets them apart isn't just their numbers or loyalty — though both are immense — but the way soccer is embedded into the fabric of Brazilian daily life. For Brazilians, this isn’t just a sport; it’s an identity, a shared national language and often a source of great joy and hope.
Brazilian fans embody a love for the game that’s expressive, making them some of the greatest supporters on the planet. This very thing has been on display at the FIFA Club World Cup. No place has seen this more than MetLife Stadium just outside New York City. Brazilians attending games at this venue have been a delight to watch and hear.
While attendance at the Club World Cup has been hit or miss (depending on the game), Brazilian fans have more than made up for it with their passion. In fact, one of the most distinctive traits of Brazilian fans is their emotional intensity and unrestrained enthusiasm.
That energetic pulse has been on full display in the New York area over the past week as Palmeiras and Fluminense fans have flooded into the area to cheer on their favorite club side.
From elaborately choreographed fan displays (the flag waving behind the goals) and constant chanting (for the full 90 minutes!) has made up for the many empty seats at MetLife Stadium over the course of the last three matches played at the 82,500-seat venue.
Only a crowd of 34,763 attended Tuesday’s match between Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund, accounting for roughly 40% of the stadium’s total capacity. Although the game ended 0-0 and the cavernous MetLife Stadium looked largely empty, the Brazilians brought with them plenty of noise. It made for a great atmosphere, even masking the fact that most of the venue appeared deserted.
Not even an attempt to drop ticket prices — they were as low as $33 hours before kick-off — could not provide a last-minute boost for the noon start time. The rainy whether certainly did’t help.
This should come as no surprise. What did surprise me was how many fans had traveled here from Brazil to attend matches. Add to those numbers the many Brazilians who live in the United States (and especially in nearby Newark, N.J.) and you get a great atmosphere.
I witnessed this very thing back at the 2014 World Cup when Brazil hosted the tournament. The country that perfected how to host a Mardi Gras party threw one big soccer celebration. The party, however, came to an end with a 7-1 loss to eventual-champions Germany in the semifinals, one of the worst defeats in national team history.
Most importantly, the nation that gave the sport players such as Pele, Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar (to name just five) has also given us passion that fans put on display through fierce devotion.
If the Club World Cup has shown us anything, it’s that Brazilians love their club teams. Next year,. they’ll be in the U.S. cheering on Brazil. For now, they are happy to show pride in their club teams in the hope one of them will be crowned the best in the world.