-
ANGEL NAKAMURA
Updated
Brazil supporters brought plenty of energy and humor to Philadelphia ahead of their World Cup clash against Haiti, gathering at the iconic Rocky Balboa statue for a lively “banderazo” that quickly caught the attention of soccer fans around the world.
The event took an unexpected twist when several Brazilian fans dressed the famous movie statue in an Argentina national team jersey, embracing the South American superstition known as “mufa.”
Brazil fans try to jinx Argentina by dressing Rocky Balboa in Albiceleste colors
In soccer culture, “mufa” refers to an alleged curse or jinx that supporters believe can bring bad luck to a team. By placing Argentina’s colors on one of Philadelphia’s most recognizable landmarks, Brazilian fans joked that they were sending some unwanted fortune toward their longtime rivals.
The playful stunt sparked thousands of reactions
Photos and videos of the scene spread rapidly across social media, with supporters laughing, singing and posing alongside the statue while the blue-and-white shirt rested on Rocky’s shoulders.
The playful stunt sparked thousands of reactions, especially from Argentine fans who responded with jokes of their own and insisted that no curse could stop the reigning world champions.
The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina remains one of the fiercest in international soccer, and moments like this show how the competition extends well beyond the pitch. Fans from both nations rarely miss an opportunity to tease each other during major tournaments.
Brazil faces Haiti as the overwhelming favorite
Brazil enters its second World Cup match knowing there is little margin for error. After settling for a 1-1 draw against Morocco in its tournament opener, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad now faces Haiti in a game that suddenly carries significant importance for the five-time world champions.
The draw against Morocco left Brazil chasing the top spots in Group C, making three points against Haiti almost essential before a potentially decisive showdown with Scotland later in the group stage. While the expanded World Cup format offers additional paths to the knockout rounds, Brazil is expected to qualify comfortably rather than rely on complicated tiebreakers or a third-place finish.
On paper, Haiti appears to be the weakest team in the group after opening the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Scotland. Brazil will enter the match as the overwhelming favorite, but the pressure is entirely on the South American giants to deliver a convincing performance after failing to secure all three points in their first outing.
