Ahead of their opening match at the 2026 World Cup, hundreds of Brazilian fans turned Times Square into a football festival, drawing attention with their cheers directed towards Neymar.
Just one day before the Brazilian national team entered their opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Morocco, a passionate atmosphere emerged in the center of New York City. Hundreds of Brazilian fans gathered at Times Square, one of America’s most iconic landmarks, creating a vibrant cheering scene for coach Carlo Ancelotti and his team. Brazilian flags covered many areas, while the sounds of drums, music, and familiar chants continuously echoed amidst the dense crowd.
The highlight of the gathering was the chants praising Neymar, while simultaneously directing taunts at superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In a video shared on social media, many fans chanted in unison: “Cristiano Ronaldo came here for a vacation. Messi is nothing, we have Neymar.”
This moment quickly attracted the attention of fans as the 2026 World Cup officially kicked off. Neymar continues to be the biggest symbol of Brazilian football in the eyes of many fans, despite the fact that the forward is past the peak of his career and previously went through a long period struggling with injuries.
The activity at Times Square is part of the campaign by Movimento Verde e Amarelo, a famous fan organization that often follows the Brazilian national team in international tournaments. This group plans to organize many similar events in the host cities of the “Selecao’s” matches throughout the World Cup.
Notably, the organizers also brought together members from various fan groups of different clubs in Brazil to create an atmosphere similar to their home stadiums. The goal is to provide the biggest source of encouragement for the national team on their journey to conquer their 6th world championship.
Brazil will kick off Group C on the morning of June 14 with a clash against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. After many years of waiting, Samba fans expect coach Carlo Ancelotti to help the team rediscover their World Cup glory.
