Background
Brazil's history with soccer (or "futebol", as it is known in the country), began in the late 19th century. The sport was brought to Brazil by Englishmen. However, at the time it was only played by the elites of the country. Elite state soccer teams such as Sao Paulo Futebol Clube, which still exists today and is active in Brazilian soccer championships, began form at this time.
In the 1900s, the sport's popularity began to spread to the masses. The transition from an elite sport to a popular sport was due to a change in how the game was played. The English style was replaced by great speed and tactics that would come to be a strong characteristic of the Brazilian style of soccer.
The Brazilian national soccer team was soon formed in 1914, taking part in FIFA's inaugural World Cup in 1930. Even though Brazil left the tournament in its early stages, it would later come to win FIFA's World Cup in 1958 and 1962, with the emergence of Brazil's most iconic soccer player, Pelé. Pelé also helped the team win the World Cup in 1970. Brazil's national team would win the tournament again in 1994 and 2002, becoming the only nation in the world to have won the World Cup five times.
Soccer developed from being a casual elite activity to being a lifestyle in Brazil. The national team's performance and the great support it receives from Brazilians in international tournaments shows a small part of the sport's importance in the country. Brazil also has dozens of country-wide and state-wide tournaments every year, with many people in the country devoting their lives to cheering for their local teams and soccer players as if the sport were a religion. The sport is an essential part of the country's culture, but is also intertwined with a variety of political and economic issues present in Brazil. Read more about soccer and political and economic aspects in Brazil in the World Cup 2014 and The Dictatorship tabs.
In the 1900s, the sport's popularity began to spread to the masses. The transition from an elite sport to a popular sport was due to a change in how the game was played. The English style was replaced by great speed and tactics that would come to be a strong characteristic of the Brazilian style of soccer.
The Brazilian national soccer team was soon formed in 1914, taking part in FIFA's inaugural World Cup in 1930. Even though Brazil left the tournament in its early stages, it would later come to win FIFA's World Cup in 1958 and 1962, with the emergence of Brazil's most iconic soccer player, Pelé. Pelé also helped the team win the World Cup in 1970. Brazil's national team would win the tournament again in 1994 and 2002, becoming the only nation in the world to have won the World Cup five times.
Soccer developed from being a casual elite activity to being a lifestyle in Brazil. The national team's performance and the great support it receives from Brazilians in international tournaments shows a small part of the sport's importance in the country. Brazil also has dozens of country-wide and state-wide tournaments every year, with many people in the country devoting their lives to cheering for their local teams and soccer players as if the sport were a religion. The sport is an essential part of the country's culture, but is also intertwined with a variety of political and economic issues present in Brazil. Read more about soccer and political and economic aspects in Brazil in the World Cup 2014 and The Dictatorship tabs.