At Brazil’s debut in the Cup, Fan Fest in SP has a ‘non-Bolsonarista’ gay and yellow kiss

Unlike those who watched the game in Qatar, Brazil’s debut at the Fan Fest in São Paulo had beer and a gay kiss.

The event in Vale do Anhangabaú, sponsored by Brahma —a cousin of Budweiser, from the same Ambev— distributed 25,000 tickets. And, despite several empty spaces at the beginning of the game, space was filled during the confrontation.

The team beat Serbia 2-0, with two goals from Richarlison.

“The space is wonderful, safer, and the screen is incredible, much bigger”, celebrated Jean-Pierre Toledo, after kissing Ítalo Cabral at halftime. At 32, Toledo is almost a Fan Fest veteran: he was in 2014 and 2018.

According to the organization of the event, the 1,000-inch screen is the largest in the world for sporting events, measuring 645 square meters. Even the crowd at the back had good visibility from the big screen above the stage.

Another large screen was behind the stage and served well those who were more in front. Two other side screens completed the structure, but these had a slightly blurred image.

While waiting for a goal, which came in the second half, Toledo lamented the persecution of the LGBTQIA+ community in the country of the Cup. “I think what happens there is absurd. In Brazil there is also prejudice, but the setback there is unusual,” he said.

Both were wearing yellow shirts. And they celebrated the fact of being able to use the color without any political reference.

Toledo only regretted the fact that the Brazilian team did not express any solidarity with LGBTQIA+ groups in Qatar, unlike what happened with the European teams. “I loved what Denmark did,” he said, referring to the “invisible” national team crest.

After the delay in scoring, the one celebrating was Marcos Paulo Cabral de Lima, 48, Cássio do Farol, who was watching Brazil’s debut against Serbia holding a replica of the FIFA cup. Before the start he was more optimistic. “It will be 6 to 1 for Brazil, and at the turn.”

As a good coach, he commented that Tite left some important names off the list. “Cassio, Scarpa, Dudu and Gabigol were missing… and me”, he pondered happily. At halftime, he was already suspicious of his initial prediction: “It’s bone”.

Different points in the large area sold beer, such as a can of Brahma Duplo Malte, for R$10 (in a plastic cup) and Brahma draft beer, for R$13. ), gives Sheet pointed out that Brahma Duplo Malte is better than Bud, the beer not available in Copa.

Before the start of the match, Band presenter Carina Corsato entertained the audience and received Belletti. The reserve winger for the 2002 World Cup recalled that “Saudi Arabia has already beaten Argentina, Japan has already beaten Germany, this serves for Brazil to enter more closely”. Afterwards, he gave his tip, “3 to 0”.

After Brazil’s 2-0 victory, at the end of the afternoon, some people left. But many stayed for the shows that would take place next, by Gustavo Mioto and Léo Santana.

In Rio, party has technical problems

The bad weather and the forecast of rain discouraged locals and tourists who got ready to watch the game on Copacabana beach, in the south zone of Rio, stage of the Fan Fest in the city.

It was expected that 20,000 people would attend the event. Free tickets sold out on Tuesday (22). But, throughout the game, there were many empty spaces in the Brahma Rio Arena. The structure was set up on the sand, near Avenida Princesa Isabel, at Posto 2.

The city of Rio entered the mobilization stage in the afternoon because of the forecast of heavy rain.

Student Valeska Nunes, 24, said she almost changed her plans. “As the day started to rain a lot, my friends and I planned to go somewhere else. But we saw that it was no longer raining in the early afternoon and we decided to keep the schedule. We live close, but who comes from far away with sure got discouraged,” he said.

After the game, the organization decided to release the entry for those who had not signed up through the website. From the stage, the master of ceremonies announced into the microphone: “You who are out there and can hear me, go to the main entrance and come here to enjoy the event”.

From anywhere on the sand, fans could follow the broadcast on a 645 square meter, 1,000-inch, high-definition screen, the same size as the one used in São Paulo.

Throughout the match, however, the screen had technical problems, leaving fans apprehensive.

The screen went all black at least six times. At one point, the image did not appear for five seconds, and the audience booed. Some people considered going to a bar to watch the rest of the game.

Sought after, the advisory of the event informed that it would investigate what happened.

In addition to the live broadcast, the event in Copacabana featured concerts by Ferrugem and Dudu Nobre.

As in São Paulo, there were fans at Fan Fest in Rio de Janeiro celebrating the fact that they could wear the yellow shirt of the national team without being seen as Bolsonaro supporters. Among Bolsonaro’s supporters, there were those who decided not to see the national team match.

In Jundiaí, for example, in front of the 12th GAC (Campaign Artillery Group), another coup demonstration took place during the game that contested the result of the last elections and called for military intervention. At the entrance to the barracks, next to the Anhanguera highway, hundreds ignored the duel between Brazil and Serbia. Boos were heard as fireworks announced Richarlison’s goals.