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Football is a rather traditional and popular sport. Millions, if not billions, of people, are fans of
their respective teams. For many, it is not only their passion or love but also their profession. It
is also fair to say that football is arguably the most well-known sport out there. However, each
country has preferences when it comes to sports. Where the United States is obsessed with its
own version of football, Brazil prefers the traditional English one. But how exactly did football
influence Afro-Brazilian culture? Well, today we will find out!
Football Basics
We will start by highlighting that today we’re not speaking about American football. So if you’re
reading this article as an American person, you can refer to this sport as soccer in your head. It
is a sport where 11 different players from two opposing teams run around the field to bring
another goal to their teammates and country. This version of football was originally
invented in Britain, as many claim. Nevertheless, with a rapid growth of traveling and changes in society, it
swiftly reached other regions. That is how it originally got into Brazil. It is also the beginning of
the story of how Brazil became one of the most prosperous countries when it comes to this
sport.
Online and Live Streaming
Now you can watch football even without buying tickets to a match. Let us imagine that you live
somewhere far away from Brazil, but you still want to see your favorite team, specifically from
this country. Do you have any extra options? Our answer is yes. It is no secret that sports like
football often come with sports betting and even casinos. It is also a somewhat well-known fact
that online gambling or online
casinos are developing at unimaginable rates. Therefore, you, as
a football fan, can find the best online casino and stream football matches online. Of course,
you can also bet on your favorite players or teams and communicate with other people in your
community. We see this as a win-win situation.
Elite and Its Connection to Football
Getting back to the history of football in Brazil, we also want to say that this sport was initially
associated with the elite. A lot of Caucasian individuals travel around the world, especially from
Great Britain, and bring their culture with them. Therefore, when British football finally reached
Brazil, it was considered to be an activity for wealthy, white, and elite people. Only later did it
start to bring a revolution toward African Brazilian people. However, it did begin as something
that was yet another difference between wealthy colonizers and other races who were
discriminated against. It is also hard to trace the precise moment when football became an
essential part of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Culture and Football
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As we mentioned before, football started as a relatively affluent and white sport. It slowly bled
into masses and especially clicked with Afro-Brazilian people. Considering the obsessive nature
of racial discrimination, Afro-Brazilians had little to no rights and opportunities to show
themselves. Football finally became something where racially discriminated individuals could
establish themselves. In this day and age, it is almost impossible to imagine football without
Brazilian teams. After all, Brazil has won
eight Copa Américas and five World Cups, and it’s only
the beginning of the journey. Brazilian teams have millions of fans from different countries all
around the world, all voting for them to succeed. At this point, we cannot deny that football
became a part of Brazilian culture as it is deeply rooted in their traditions. Yes, there are many
other sports in which Brazil succeeds, yet football was the first and thus the most popular one
out of all of them.
Final Thoughts
It is clear by now that football could not necessarily revolutionize the way people view Brazil, but
it definitely opened new horizons and opportunities for Afro-Brazilian people. Football became
one of the sports that actually allowed people who were racially discriminated against to
succeed in something and showcase their incredible skills. Even though the sport started as
something secured only for the privileged, it became apparent that no one was as good at
football as the Brazilian people. It is beyond intriguing now to trace back the origins of football
that started in Britain and flourished in Brazil. After all, no one does better in football than
Brazilian teams.
About the Author: Sven Eggers is a highly experienced writer who found his passion in online casinos and sports
gambling. He knows how to choose the best platform and be responsible. Besides, he is also a
massive fan of sports, including football.