Watching the
World Cup

A photographic journey exploring crowds
at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil

The beach erupts in celebrations as Argentina win on penalties
Photos by
Jane Stockdale
Words by
Damian Platt
Website by
Enjoythis

Brazil is synonymous with football. Even so, no one knew what to expect. Massive street protests during last year's Confederations Cup revealed frustration with stadium spending and a deep-rooted desire for change in the country. This year, the authorities braced themselves for more. But when football fans from all over the world arrived, Brazilians threw away their troubles and set about hosting one of the happiest, most exciting World Cups ever.

Football is unpredictable, full of shocks and surprises. Yet no one could imagine what would happen. This was a tournament unlike any other, where the world witnessed the much-loved host country live out a sporting nightmare, and where three previous World Champions were eliminated in the first round.

What was it like to follow the action in Brazil? From a farm to the favelas, beach to an A+E department - this photo essay brings you the story of Brazilians and fans from all over the world as they live the agony and ecstasy of the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

Joris from Costa Rica watches the 1st round World Cup action with his dad in the FIFA fan zon
  • Costa Rica vs Greece
  • 100 minutes
  • FIFA Fan Fest, Rio

Joris from Costa Rica watches the 1st round World Cup action with his dad in the FIFA fan zone. Such is football's global reach that by the end of the tournament over 3.6 billion people - almost half of all humanity - would watch the World Cup.

Before the World Cup, Brazil was jittery. A year ago, the largest protests in a generation had unsettled the country. These included massive dissatisfaction with the billions spent on glittering “FIFA standard” stadia. When demonstrators called for FIFA standard hospitals and schools, the authorities responded with tear gas and plastic bullets.

Brazilians love the World cup but this time round nothing is simple. Streets usually painted green and yellow ablaze with Brazil flags and bunting remain untouched. Then the world arrives on the doorstep. The World Cup is on and the people of Brazil belatedly get behind it. Where could be better to watch Brazil play than on the beach?

Brazilians and tourists flocked to Copacabana beach to watch Brazil vs Cameroon

Brazilians and tourists flocked to Copacabana beach to watch Brazil vs Cameroon on a giant outdoor screen as beach vendors sold Caipirinha and ice-cold beer.

With Brazil in the global spotlight, public security was paramount. In the build-up to the World Cup, Brazil deployed over 100,000 public safety officials and some 50,000 troops from the Brazilian armed forces at an unprecedented cost of US$ 855 million.

Complexo do Maré is a huge sprawling favela built on reclaimed swampland near Rio's centre. Home to over 100,000 people its flat, orderly streets are set out on a grid system. To try to maintain security during the World Cup, in March, 3,000 soldiers were deployed to occupy the entire community in preparation for the tournament.

Brazilian soldiers
Brazilian soldiers
  • Brazil vs Colombia
  • 7 minutes
  • Complexo do Maré

When Brazil score against Colombia, 7 minutes into the match, the favela explodes in joy. But even the soldiers in Maré can’t always distinguish between fireworks and gunshots - there are nervous moments when celebrations begin.

Kids on the beach

Meanwhile an estimated 600,000 foreign fans arrive in Brazil to join locals at FIFA fanfests around the country. The World Cup is ubiquitous. From waiting rooms to bus stations, beauty salons to banks, shops to supermarkets - everyone across Brazil seems to be tuning into the matches. For the entire month - everywhere you go - you can't escape the World Cup.

Rodrigo watches South Korea vs Belgium
Watching Germany vs USA play in a local boteco in Vidigal favela
Patients in the waiting room at Hospital das Clinicas in São Paulo
Residents at the Casa das Senorãs old folks home in São Paulo cheer on Brazil vs Mexico

Top left - Rodrigo watches South Korea vs Belgium as he sits and waits for his motorbike to be fixed a mechanics in Rio. Top right - watching Germany vs USA play in a local boteco in Vidigal favela. Bottom right - residents at the Casa das Senorãs old folks home in São Paulo cheer on Brazil vs Mexico. Bottom left - patients in the waiting room at Hospital das Clinicas in São Paulo tune into watch Portugal play Germany.

When Brazil play the country feels like everything comes to a standstill. Public holidays are declared. Streets are deserted. During a match the country unites to shut up shop and everyone seems to be watching the game. Everywhere you look people are wearing Brazil shirts.

The excitement of watching Brazil play is all too much for one fan. He only woke up when Brazil scored.

The excitement of watching Brazil play is all too much for one fan. He woke up when Brazil scored.

A Mexican TV channel films the reaction of Mexicans fans
  • Mexico vs Croatia
  • 94 minutes
  • Copacabana

A Mexican TV channel films the reaction of Mexicans fans as they celebrate victory over Croatia live on TV.

Away from the Zona Sul neighbourhood and its famous beaches, security means something else for the residents of the enormous Complexo do Alemão favela. Like Maré, Alemão is home to more than 100,000 cariocas. Armed violence has blighted their lives for decades, and despite extensive investment, a police ‘pacification’ programme and a bizarre cable car project, which has turned the community into a tourist attraction, 2014 has been a violent, troubled year.

On the Rua 2, shootouts between police and local gang members are a daily occurrence. Brazil games give residents a chance to celebrate and forget about it, even just for a few hours. Brazil vs Chile takes place on a wonderful sunny afternoon and spirits are high with roof terrace barbecues, and plasma screens, set up at countless parties across the favela. Children are decked out in Brazil shirts and painting each other’s faces with footballs and flags as the game starts. When Brazil wins the party begins with volley after volley of fireworks. ‘Fireworks or gunshots?’ the kids ask.

Kids everywhere wear the Number 10 shirt of national hero Neymar
A Brazil flag flies over Complexo de Alemão
Abraão, aged 12, has his face painted with a Brazil flag before the game
A rooftop barbecue with friends and family to celebrate the game

Top left - Kids everywhere wear the Number 10 shirt of national hero Neymar. Top right - A Brazil flag flies over Complexo de Alemão. Bottom right - a rooftop barbecue with friends and family to celebrate the game. Bottom left - Abraão, aged 12, has his face painted with a Brazil flag before the game.

A rooftop barbecue in Alemão

A rooftop barbecue in Alemão. The excitement gets too much during the penalty shoot-outs. With everyone jumping up and down, a bench collapses and everyone cracks up laughing.

Football is a universal game. It doesn't matter who you are or where you’re from – everyone can choose a team to support and get involved.

A girl reacts in disbelief as the USA team miss an opportunity to score
  • USA vs Ghana
  • 39 minutes
  • FIFA fan fest, São Paulo

A girl reacts as the USA miss an opportunity to score against Ghana at the FIFA Fan Fest in São Paulo.

American fans go wild when the USA beat Ghana 2-1

American fans go wild when the USA beat Ghana 2-1. Ghana knocked the USA out of the past two World Cups,
so fans are relieved and jubilant.

England fans are out en masse in Brazil
England fans are out on mass in Brazil
  • England vs Italy
  • 70 minutes
  • FIFA fan fest, Sao Paulo

England fans are out en masse in Brazil - yet despite a small army of fans in Brazil chanting, cheering, screaming and singing, England are eliminated after not winning any of their matches. But there's no time to feel sad. "who cares - we're in Brazil!" says Callum.

Farm hand João half-watches the match at his local in Martinesia
  • USA vs Belgium
  • 76 minutes
  • Martinesia

Farm hand João half-watches the match at his local in Martinesia, a small rural town in Minas Gerais. Not all World Cup matches are popular and USA vs Belgium competes with Brazilian country and western music.

As tourists flood to the 12 key World Cup host cities to watch the matches, daily life remains normal in most other Brazilian towns. Yet across the country - everyone tunes in to watch the games.

Staff and club members tune into watch Switzerland vs Argentina at the exclusive Praia Clube
Praia Clube
  • Switzerland vs Argentina
  • 36 minutes
  • Uberlândia

Staff and club members tune into watch Switzerland vs Argentina at the exclusive Praia Clube - a private members health and leisure complex in the heart of Uberlândia. The match is screened on various different TV's throughout the club. Almost everyone is supporting Switzerland. They don't want Brazil's arch rival Argentina to win.

Brazilian soldiers
Back in Complexo da Maré heavily armed, mainly young, army
  • Brazil vs Colombia
  • 79 minutes
  • Complexo do Maré

Back in Complexo da Maré heavily armed, mainly young, army conscripts continue to oversee the forced ceasefire between Maré’s warring gangs and the police. But everyone wants to watch the game. As parties and barbecues happen throughout the favela even the soldiers can't resist following the match.

When Brazil win Maré erupts into a huge party. Huge walls of speakers line the favela streets. The whole community is out to dance, party and celebrate Brazil's win. There is funk, pagode and even the local samba band which turns out to play.

Breno and his friend ride through Maré in celebration
  • Brazil vs Colombia
  • 94 minutes
  • Complexo do Maré

Breno and his friend ride through Maré in celebration after Brazil beat Colombia to make it through to the semi-finals.

Brazil make it to the final four, with only two matches to go. Yet, with Brazil's superstar striker Neymar injured and out of play, people in Alemão seem anxious. The sky looks ominus and grey in the build-up to the semi-final Brazil and Germany clash.

Dona Zefa watches the match in stunned silence outside her house
  • Brazil vs Germany
  • 70 minutes
  • Complexo do Alemão

Dona Zefa watches the match in stunned silence outside her house. She’s seen Brazil win the World Cup five times. Today she’s shell-shocked. "No comment".

Watching Brazil’s impossible astral inferno defeat was surreal. At 5-0 everyone sits in shock. No one can believe what’s happening. At 6-0 someone orders another round of drinks. By 7-0 everyone is hugging, jumping and cheering on Germany.

The speakers are set and Rua 2 erupts into a massive Baile Funk that lasts all night. It feels like the entire community of Alemão are out to celebrate. Despite Brazil’s crushing defeat the party carries on.

Fireworks

When the Brazil vs Germany match ends, no one mentions the football again. Locals set off fireworks into the night sky.

Brazil crash out. Germany are through. It’s the second semi-final: Argentina and Holland battle for a place in the World Cup Final. Copacabana is packed as football fans, locals, tourists, families, grannies and babies all gather to watch the game.

There are anxious moments as Argentina and Holland draw 0-0
  • Argentina vs Holland
  • 69 minutes
  • Copacabana beach

There are anxious moments as Argentina and Holland draw 0-0. Suspense is intense and the game goes to penalties.

Argentinian supporters
Argentinian supporters
Argentinian supporters
Argentinian supporters

Supporters wait with baited breath during the penalty shoot-out. The beach erupts in celebrations as Argentina win.

The beach erupts in celebrations as Argentina win on penalties

After Brazil's crushing defeat by Germany it rains for three days. It seems Brazil is crying. Back in Maré for Brazil’s match for third place with Holland, there’s a sea-change in atmosphere. The streets were once packed with the entire Maré community wearing Brazil shirts - today hardly anyone's wearing yellow. The match kicks off, yet no one really cares. While most locals stay home, small groups gather to watch Brazil’s last game. Even so, the streets in Maré are still some of the best decorated in the whole city.

Girls do their nails and homework at home as Brazil play Holland on TV
A few friends sit in a local bar to watch the game
Young kids skateboard in the street
Seu João watches the game
  • Brazil vs Holland
  • 70 minutes
  • Complexo do Maré

Brazil did so badly against Germany that the outcome of this match no longer really matters. Top left - girls do their nails and homework at home as Brazil play Holland on TV. Top right - a few friends sit in a local bar to watch the game. Last week the same bar was packed when Brazil played. Bottom right - Seu João watches the game end while behind him, soldiers gather to go on patrol through Maré. Bottom left - kids skateboard in the street.

During the build up to the World Cup final in Rio, a huge influx of around 50,000 Argentinian fans flood the city to cheer on their national team. In a symbolic goodwill gesture, Rio's Mayor Eduardo Paes opens Brazil’s iconic Sambodrome, home of the Carnival parade, for fans to camp out. The mayor previously was reported to say that he would “kill himself if Argentina won against Brazil in the Maracana”.

Argentina are Brazil's arch rivals and antagonism exists between fans. Adopting extra-ordinary security preparations, Brazil doubles the numbers of troops in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the match to 26,000.

Maxi, 34, made the journey to Rio from his small town of Corrientes in Argentina
  • Argentina vs Germany
  • Build up to the final
  • Sambodrome

Maxi, 34, made the journey to Rio from his small town of Corrientes in Argentina and is camping with friends in the Sambodrome. “I love football”, he says, practicing his skills under an iconic Oscar Niemeyer sculpture.

The city is awash with fans from everywhere. Crowds are ecstatic, after all they’re at the greatest party in the world: the World Cup final on Copacabana beach. The build-up is immense. Drummers rattle polyrhythms on military drums. People dance, shout, sing and scream. Although Argentinian fans outnumber Germans by around 1 to 10, all of Brazil seems to be backing Germany against their rival. To lose to Germany and see Argentina win against the same team in the final, in Brazil, would be simply too much to bear. While vendors pace the beach selling flags, ice-cold beers and caipirinhas, fans hold their breath.

The build up to the final
To cool off from the 30 degree heat many fans run into the water for a swim before the match begins
To cool off from the 30 degree heat many fans run into the water for a swim before the match begins
To cool off from the 30 degree heat many fans run into the water for a swim before the match begins
To cool off from the 30 degree heat many fans run into the water for a swim before the match begins
  • Argentina vs Germany
  • Build up to the final
  • Copacabana

The build up to the final is electric - everywhere people dance, drink and party in anticipation and expectation for the game. To cool off from the 30 degree heat many fans run into the water for a swim before the match begins.

41 minutes into the match Argentinian fans erupt in delight as they think they've scored
  • Argentina vs Germany
  • 41 minutes
  • Copacabana

The game begins. 41 minutes into the match Argentinian fans erupt in delight as they think they've scored. But the goal was offside. Howls of disappointment echo across the beach as the goal is disallowed.

Fans everywhere hold their breath in expectation
Fans everywhere hold their breath in expectation
Fans everywhere hold their breath in expectation
Fans everywhere hold their breath in expectation

Fans everywhere hold their breath in expectation. The match captivates everyone - young and old - and all eyes are glued to the giant screen. Some pray, some hug, some cry. On Copacabana the suspense is too much to bear.

The moment Germany score against Argentina

The moment Germany score against Argentina.

The moment that Germany scored against Argentina
Supporters of all ages collapse in tears
Supporters of all ages collapse in tears
Supporters of all ages collapse in tears
Supporters of all ages collapse in tears

Yet there is no happy ending tonight for Argentina. Supporters of all ages collapse in tears. An old man sits on a deck chair, crying, choking back tears, inconsolable. Fans hug and try to console each other. Others sit silent in shock and disbelief.

Angry and on the edge of reason some throw bottles and deck-chairs on the beach. When fighting breaks out in nearby streets riot police come in firing tear gas and stun grenades. It feels like the protests all over again.

Argentian fans everywhere look distraught
The beach looks like a battleground
  • Argentina vs Germany
  • After the match
  • Copacabana

Argentian fans everywhere look distraught. The beach looks like a battleground.

Yet it is the World Cup final and there can only be one winner. The German fans are over the moon. But even with Brazilian support, their party lacks passion. You can’t help wondering what the Argentinean – or Brazilian - celebration might have been.

The final kiss
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