These are the 3 most popular sports in Brazil

Visiting Brazil this year? Why not check out some of the most popular sports in the country, to give you an insight into Brazil that is off the typical tourist track? Not sure where to start? Here are some of the most popular sports in Brazil along with a little language to get you by when you are watching.

 

 

Football

 

You won’t be surprised that football is the most loved sport in Brazil! Brazil is third in the Fifa World Rankings, and has won the World Cup five times. Its premier league Brasileirão is home to 20 teams including the likes of Palmeiras and Corinthians, producing the likes of Pelé and Ronaldinho for all would-be footballers to aspire to. Though if you want a little lower league action away from all the glory of these celebrity players, Brazil has plenty of that to offer you as well. Série B and Série C each have 20 teams competing, and Série D, 40. The Copa de Brasil is also a great watch and an incredible atmosphere as 91 teams compete to be crowned champion. So there is plenty of football happening in Brazil, whatever level of competition you prefer to watch!

 

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Here is a little Brazilian Portuguese to get you by on the terraces.

 

For the team:

Jogador — player

O time / a equipe — team

Arbitro / juiz — referee

Goleiro — goal keeper

Zagueiro — defender

Meio-campo — midfielder

Atacante — forward

Centroavante — centre forward

Goleador — striker

O capitão — captain

O técnico — coach

 

For the game:

Futebol — football

Bola — ball

Campo — field/pitch

Chute — kick

Escanteio — corner

Falta — foul

Gol — goal

Impedimento — offside

Penalti — penalty

Trave — goalpost

O intervalo — half time

A prorrogação — extra time

O cartão amarelo / vermelho — yellow / red card

Marcar o gol — the score

Torcida — fans

 

 

Volleyball

 

The Brazilian Volleyball Superliga is the top level volleyball league for Brazil, where twelve teams compete for the title. The women’s league runs alongside the mens, their championship titles defended at the same time. Sada Cruzeiro Vôlei has won the men’s league five years in a row, and Minas Tênis Clube the women’s. Other big names to look out for are SESI-SP, Vôlei Taubaté, Praia Clube, and Rio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube. In the FIVB World Rankings, the men’s volleyball team is first, and the women’s fourth. And if you prefer your volleyball beside the sea, well Brazil has that too! Beach volleyball is incredibly popular in beach cities like Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Fortaleza, both for spectators and participants; as you’d expect from a country with such a long stretch of coast!

 

So what language should you use when watching or participating in a game?

 

A bola — ball

O mastro — pole

A rede — net

A areia — sand

A linha — line

Os jogadores — players

A manchete — bump

O levantamento — overhead pass

O saque — serve

O corte — spike

O bloqueio — block

 

 

Basketball

 

Novo Basquete Brasil is Brazil’s professional basketball league. 15 teams compete with each other in the first phase of the season, after which 8 go on to compete in the playoffs. The current title holder is Flamengo, who are by far the most successful team in the league’s history. Also keep an eye out for teams Brasilia and Bauru. Teams relegated from this league go to the Liga Ouro de Basquete, where nine teams compete for the title. Brazil is currently ranked twelfth in the FIBA World Rankings so there is room for improvement, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a lot of great basketball to watch when you visit! You could be seeing the international stars of the future playing on the court!

 

So what language might you hear while looking out for basketball’s future Brazilian stars?

 

Time — team

Basquete — basketball

Torneio — tournament

Passe — pass

Tentativa — shot

Cesta — basket

A Dança — The Dance

Surpreender — upset

Azarão — underdog

Campeonato — championship

Enterrada — dunk

Bandeja — layup

Drible — dribble

Chave — bracket

Árbitro — referee

Prorrogação — overtime

 

Whatever sport is your thing, we hope your time in Brazil is incredible — and that you take a little Portuguese home with you when you go!