Inside Brazil’s Torcida Culture with Photo Curva

At Photo Curva, the mission has always been clear: to present different supporters’ cultures from across the globe. Each year, the magazine publishes two editions – one reflecting on the past season, and another as a special issue. The first special edition was dedicated to Argentina and Uruguay. The second, fittingly, will focus on Brazil.

What struck the team immediately is how little recognition Brazilian supporters – and the wider torcida culture – receive in Europe compared with their Argentine counterparts. After spending time in Argentina last year, Photo Curva wanted to see for themselves how the atmosphere in Brazil’s terraces compares.

“We noticed that Brazilian supporters receive far less attention in Europe than Argentine fans,” they explain. “That’s what made us want to come here and experience it first-hand.”

The Stage: Copa Libertadores

The perfect opportunity to do so is, of course, the Copa Libertadores. Photo Curva will be attending three of this year’s quarter-final clashes: Flamengo v Estudiantes, Palmeiras v River Plate, and São Paulo v LDU Quito.

“In South America, the Libertadores is experienced in a completely different way to the Champions League in Europe,” they say. “It’s more visceral, more alive – and it’s something we’d recommend anyone to experience for themselves.”

First Stop: Vasco da Gama

From a European perspective, one of the first things that stands out is the sheer scale of Brazil’s clubs. Vasco da Gama may not carry the same name recognition as Flamengo or Palmeiras abroad, but it commands millions of fans across Brazil.

Photo Curva were given a rare insight into Força Jovem, the club’s largest supporters’ group. With thousands of members and a sprawling three-storey building beside the stadium – complete with bar, shop, and social space – it was an immersion into a community that represents far more than just matchday support.

“It was a truly unique and memorable experience,” they reflect.

Holding Back Comparisons

So how does it compare with Europe? For now, Photo Curva prefer to hold back judgment. “We’ll answer that after a few more matches,” they say with a smile.

First Impressions of Brazil

What they can say already, however, is just how omnipresent football feels in Brazil.

“On our very first morning, we found ourselves on Copacabana beach watching 9-a-side football in the sand, while nearby groups played footvolley. Everywhere we turned, the game was there. Just as striking was the sheer number of football shirts worn in the streets. Flamengo shirts were everywhere, but we also saw fans of countless other clubs proudly showing their colours.”

For Photo Curva, that first impression captured something profound. In Brazil, football isn’t just a sport. It’s part of the fabric of everyday life.