Ana Thais talks about the World Cup: ‘Being canceled is funnier than sad’

Pests to become the first woman in TV Globo’s history to comment on a men’s World Cup, journalist Ana Thais Matos, 37, is in full preparation. There are expectations for the coverage, studies on the local culture and the certainty that criticism will come, but she says that she is already “thick skin” to withstand the demands.

“I don’t want them to agree because I’m a woman, I want them to respect and listen,” says the commentator who says she has already been canceled more than 20 times, the most recent being during Rock in Rio, when she spoke ill of the band Coldplay on social media. “Being canceled is more fun than sad”, she jokes, evaluating that therapy helped a lot.

In the Qatar Cup, which begins in November, Ana Thaís will be in the main team of the broadcaster, following the games of the Brazilian team alongside Galvão Bueno, who will say goodbye to the sports broadcasts at the end of the competition. For her, there is no way to measure what this experience will be. “I think it will only sink in there”.

The commentator has also been informed a lot about the host country of the Cup, especially with women of players who already play there, to better understand the culture and the restrictions that she may suffer, such as the need to wear clothes that cover the shoulders and knees. , and even wear a headscarf.

“I’m thinking of wearing only Globo’s uniform, I don’t want to make any comments that may seem prejudiced, I’m in total immersion. It’s a country that doesn’t see women with the freedom I’m used to. And seeing a woman in the middle of the crowd would be impactful”, says the journalist, who also spoke about aging and dreams in an interview with F5. Check out more below.

What are your expectations to be the first female commentator in a men’s Cup?

I still don’t know what that will be, I think it will only sink in in Qatar. My expectation is based on Ana da Copa feminine, the first major coverage I did on Globo. It was a time when I was understanding myself professionally and I had less than a year in this role as a commentator. I know that I speak to many and for many. I don’t represent all women, but I want to pave the way for them to identify, to feel more empowered. Emotionally speaking, playing for the Brazilian team alongside Galvão Bueno has no dimension.

Do you consider yourself the most important woman in the history of sports at Globo?

Wow, no. Individually, we had women at some point in the history of the sport, such as Fátima Bernardes and Fernanda Gentil, who were presenters. Although we are few, in my case at Globo I am the only one as a commentator yet, I occupy a chair and a space that none of us has ever occupied. It brings me responsibility and builds me up professionally to see what this place has always been for men and ex-players. And I’m a journalist too, I came from the factory floor of a newsroom, our class has to be more valued. I feel prepared and will take my experience to occupy this position. I can’t scale the size of what I represent.

The Cup takes place in the Middle East. What have you studied about the local culture?

I contacted the wives of players who live in Qatar to understand the country culturally. I’m thinking of using only Globo’s uniform, I don’t want to make any comments that might seem prejudiced, I’m in total immersion. When I went to check suitcase size, I expected to be able to take ten shirts, ten pants. It’s a country that doesn’t see women with the freedom I’m used to. I still look forward to entering the stadium, as I imagine there will only be men. A woman in the crowd would be impressive.

Will you wear a head scarf when walking the streets?

In some places it is necessary, in others it is not. The government has been betting on a certain freedom during the World Cup, but I don’t know what to do if I need to go to a pharmacy or go to dinner. My international experience is limited, I don’t have big trips under my belt. All new.

Has Globo made a manual of conduct for professionals?

Didn’t make any manuals, it was on me. I’m afraid of unintentionally lacking respect, I want to respect the standards, it’s the country’s culture and I can’t transform it my way. Another 15 days and I’ll fine-tune it to see how the day-to-day thing goes, about alcoholic beverages, for example [a lei muçulmana proíbe consumo e a entrada de mulheres em bares]. I am studying. All the conversations I’ve had with these colleagues so far have been positive in terms of day-to-day freedom.

Do you fear machismo and cancellation for being a female World Cup commentator?

Cancellation with me is very common, I’ve been living this life as long as I think. People see that a woman cannot give an opinion. I imagine there will be criticism, people who won’t agree, that’s the fun, I don’t want them to agree because I’m a woman, I want them to respect and listen. When they say your point of view isn’t worth it, at least you’re being heard. The canceller has negative engagement responsibility. Over the last few years, many women have been cancelled: Luísa Sonza, Anitta, Manuela d’Ávila. In Brazil, there is almost an invitation not to give an opinion if you are a woman. Overwhelming attempt to try to scare you, but I’m thick-skinned. Can you believe I’ve already been canceled for saying I didn’t like to go out in a team shirt?

You recently criticized those who liked Coldplay…

I thought it was funny, it was show time [no Rock in Rio], I know that many like it a lot, but I saw people taking a silly subject seriously, they made textão, marketing analysis about the band. I regret that at the most important moment of my career I have to speak about a tweet, something much smaller. Those who like me were more worried than I was.

Are you used to cancellations?

I’ve been canceled over 20 times. If I said I don’t like red chairs, someone would criticize. But I do a lot of therapy and it helps to lower the pressure. I find it more funny than sad. Until 2020 I was upset. The Robinho Factor [ela criticou a possível contratação dele pelo Santos sendo um condenado por estupro] changed my relationship with networks. Some people didn’t want me to be there. And if I am myself, I will continue to be attacked, so therapy has done me good. Next week I’ll say something and I’ll be canceled again.

If in the 2026 World Cup, Globo has more female commentators on the broadcast, will you feel like a pioneer?

I think so, I like to look at my trajectory. I have always talked about women and for women. Recently, the network did an internal event and I understood how much other women relate to my story. I like to note that I made my way into the country’s main television network. I hope to be a better commentator for four years from now, because I want to make the Brazilian team again in 2026. Maybe with a narrator by my side?

Is becoming a permanent commentator for the national team one of your biggest goals?

There is one factor which is the aging of the woman in the video. Women don’t age on TV, we have a short lifespan [Ana tem 37 anos]. Maybe I’ll be like Doris Burke, an American ESPN commentator and announcer who covers the NBA [aos 57 anos]. I don’t make many plans for the future, but I do have dreams.

A lot of people who don’t really care about sports say that you talk in a didactic way on TV.

This has been a concern of mine since the radio. I worked at Rádio Globo AM for six years and I knew that only an academic language would not reach the entire audience. That was my growth, understanding the best language and feeling comfortable using it. My language is now my main asset, and the Meeting and Fátima Bernardes helped me, because sometimes we had eight minutes on the program to talk about four or five games in the round and even comment on some case of racism, homophobia. I talk like I’m at home with friends.