PM Modi Arrives In Rio For BRICS Summit As City’s Football Passion Adds Colour To Diplomatic Visit

PM Narendra Modi landed in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th BRICS Summit and embark on a state visit to Brazil.

The visit, at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, marks the fourth leg of Modi’s five-nation tour.

Ceremonial welcome at Galeao Airport

Upon his arrival at Galeao International Airport, Brazilian officials extended a ceremonial welcome to PM Modi.

He expressed optimism about the visit through a post on X, stating, “Landed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where I will take part in the BRICS Summit and later go to their capital, Brasília, for a state visit on the invitation of President Lula. Hoping for a productive round of meetings and interactions during this visit.”

Football culture brings Rio to life

While diplomacy takes centre stage, the local spirit of Rio shone through in the form of its deep-rooted football culture.

The city is home to the iconic Maracanã Stadium, a global symbol of the sport.

Built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the stadium once held more than 200,000 spectators and was the venue for the historic ‘Maracanazo’, when Uruguay stunned Brazil in the tournament’s final.

Flamengo: Pride of Rio

Rio’s most popular football club, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, continues to dominate both the sport and the hearts of millions.

Established in 1895 as a rowing club, Flamengo played its first official football match in 1912.

Today, it is the most widely supported club in Brazil, boasting over 46.9 million fans.

Flamengo has never been relegated from the top division — a distinction it shares only with São Paulo FC.

The team’s signature red-and-black stripes and its vulture mascot, known as urubu in Portuguese, are symbols of pride for Rio’s residents.

Young voices reflect the city’s passion

A young footballer in Rio expressed his enthusiasm, “Flamengo is one of the biggest clubs in Brazil, I think it’s the best. They’re so strong, that many teams fear them. The stadium? It’s beautiful. It feels like home to me.”

Another local added, “Maracanã is very, very big, very cool. Flamengo is the best team in Brazil!”

Also Read: Indian Diaspora In Brazil Welcomes PM Modi With ‘Operation Sindoor’ Themed Cultural Tribute