Plenty has already been said about this World Cup and about all the new situations that can be expected. It is the first one held in a Middle Eastern country. The dates were changed from mid-year to November. The tournament will be played in the surrounding area of a single city. However, the changes are not just regarding the competition. Brazilian football also has a new challenge to face.
In recent years, the official shirt of the Brazilian national football team has been used in demonstrations of support for the current president of the country, Jair Bolsonaro (PL). And this will be the first major tournament played after that period.
So much so that, over the last few months, when you come across a person wearing a Brazilian football shirt, there is an almost automatic association with political preference (and not with football). There is an awkwardness in the air for a number of Brazilians when it comes to wearing the yellow shirt. The fear of being mistaken for someone else.
It is in such a scenario that Brazil makes its World Cup debut in a match against Serbia. Can victories help reverse the image and unify the relationship with the Brazilian team's shirt? We'll probably find out this Thursday.
Translated by Cassy Dias