The 4 Major Football Teams in Rio de Janeiro

One of the things our students love the most when arriving in Rio de Janeiro is choosing a football team to support. The people who love football always look for a sports store to buy a football jersey as soon as they get to Brazil. So, if you want to know more about the football teams in Rio de Janeiro and choose the one you are going to support while in Brazil, keep reading this blog post.

Meanwhile, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup here, people can not stop talking about football. Especially in Brazil. Not to jinx it, but the Brazilian team is one of the favorites to win the championship this year. Nonetheless, we are very excited here at Caminhos, gathering students and friends to watch the games together and having fun.

Let’s cut to the chase and check the four major football teams in Rio de Janeiro

Further reading: Why Brazilians are passionate about samba, football, and beer?

The four major football teams in Rio de Janeiro

Botafogo

Botafogo is one of the Brazilian clubs from Rio de Janeiro. It is often referred to as the Lonely Star, because of its logo, and ‘o Glorioso‘ (‘the glorious’) because of the success of yore. The club was founded in 1894 as a rowing team. However, the first football team was put together in 1904. Botafogo won its first state championship in 1907 and 18 others after that. Botafogo also won 2 national championships, in 1968 and 1995. The colors black and white represent the club and their mascot is ‘Manequinho‘, a little boy. Botafogo’s biggest idol was Garrincha, one of the greatest Brazilian football players of all time, who played for the club from 1953 until 1965.

Flamengo

Flamengo is not only the club with the most supporters in Brazil, but has also the biggest fan base in the world — 33 million supporters, according to FIFA. Based in Rio de Janeiro, they are also the richest football club in Brazil. Just like Botafogo, Flamengo initiated his history as a rowing club in 1895. Eventually, the official football team started playing in 1912. Flamengo’s mascot is the vulture and its colors are red and black, usually presented in stripes. Flamengo won 37 state championships between 1914 and 2022, twelve national championships (eight Campeonatos Brasileiros and four Copas do Brasil); and three CONMEBOL Libertadores in 1981, 2019, and 2022. Flamengo’s biggest idol and most famous football player is Zico.

Fluminense

Fluminense is one of the four major football teams in Rio de Janeiro. It is also the oldest football club in Rio de Janeiro, founded in 1902. Their three colors, green, white, and dark red, are a big representation of the club. Fluminense has won 32 state championships and five national titles (Campeonato Brasileiro in 1970, 1984, 2010, and 2012 and Copa do Brasil in 2007). The word ‘fluminense‘ in Portuguese is a demonym for people that are born in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Vasco

Portuguese immigrants founded Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama in 1898. Initially, the club competed in rowing, but in 1915 Vasco implemented the football department. The Portuguese community in Rio de Janeiro is still a strong fanbase for Vasco nowadays. The Cross pattée represented in Vasco’s logo is a huge part of the club. Vasco won 24 state championships and 5 national championships (Campeonato Brasileiro in 1974, 1989, 1997, and 2000, and Copa do Brasil in 2011).

Further reading: The Top Brazilian Clubs: Understanding Brazilians’ Passion for Football

Other Football Teams in Rio de Janeiro

• America
• Americano
• Angra dos Reis
• Bangu
• Boavista
• Bonsucesso
• Cabofriense
• Campo Grande
• Casimiro de Abreu
• Duque de Caxias
• Estácio de Sá
• Friburguense
• Goytacaz
• Madureira
• Nova Iguaçu
• Olaria
• Portuguesa
• São Cristóvão
• Serrano
• Volta Redonda

Rivals

Vasco and Flamengo have the biggest rivalry among football teams in Rio de Janeiro. However, the game between Flamengo and Fluminense usually gets more attention. The match between these two clubs even has its own name: Fla-Flu.

The match between Vasco and Flamengo is known as ‘Clássico dos Milhões’ (Derby of Millions). Because Vasco and Flamengo are the two largest fan bases in Rio de Janeiro, the stadiums are usually crowded for their matches, hence the name.

Caminhos Language Centre is the largest and most exciting Portuguese school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We have an excellent infrastructure, over 15 experienced Brazilian teachers, and a friendly multilingual support staff. We are the only school in Brazil able to offer Portuguese group courses throughout the year on 10 different levels. Moreover, our school also offers more than just Portuguese lessons for foreigners, we offer you the complete Rio de Janeiro experience. Every day we organize 100% free and fun activities for you to socialize and practice your Portuguese. We can also help you with a student visa for Brazil and accommodation in Rio de Janeiro. Follow Caminhos on Instagram for news and Portuguese content.