Why go
Club rivalries, major stadiums and the Museu do Futebol provide durable context for the city's sporting identity. Read Football Culture in São Paulo by comparing named districts. Match Football Culture in São Paulo with the transport link that fits. Use Football Culture in São Paulo for one coherent corridor. Save distant subjects until Football Culture in São Paulo has answered the immediate planning question.
The full story
Club rivalries, major stadiums and the Museu do Futebol provide durable context for the city's sporting identity. Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record five times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favorites to win the trophy every time the competition is scheduled. After Brazil won its 3rd World Cup in 1970, they were awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. But 365 days before World Cup 2014 begins, Brazil's rank dropped to 22nd, an all-time-low position. Pelé, arguably the greatest footballer ever, led Brazil to three of those championships and is the top scorer of all time in the sport. All of the leading players in the national teams are prominent in the football world, including Garrincha, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Romário, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaká in the men's game, and Marta in the women's game. Some of these players can be considered super-stars, achieving celebrity status internationally and signing sports contracts, as well as advertisement and endorsement contracts, in the value of millions of euros. Football is taken very seriously in Brazil. During the World Cup workers pause from their duties to watch.