It’s hard to explain to foreigners what the soccer World Cup represents in Brazil.
Call it religion, a cult, a national obsession. When the national team is playing, businesses shut down, companies send their employees home early, and children and teachers skip class. Streets are covered in green and yellow, Brazilian flags hang from balconies, and soccer jerseys become the official attire of the nation.
Patriotism is not ingrained into Brazilian society as it is in America. But during the World Cup, everyone becomes a patriot, even those, like me, who don’t care about soccer. A Brazilian victory can unite a country that very seldom feels any national pride. A defeat, like the 7-1 beating Brazil took from Germany in 2014, becomes a moment of national mourning.
