Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 6: Brazil’s shocking exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 has left thousands of football-crazy fans in Kerala heartbroken, with emotional scenes unfolding across the state as supporters removed giant cutouts, shared tearful videos and bid an emotional farewell to Neymar’s international career.
From Malappuram to Kozhikode, where football is more than just a sport, the five-time world champions’ Round of 16 defeat to Norway triggered an outpouring of grief on social media and in public spaces.
Ahead of the World Cup, towering cutouts and flexboards of Neymar and other Brazilian stars had sprung up across several parts of Kerala, reflecting the state’s unmatched passion for Brazilian football.
Hours after the 2-1 defeat, many of those giant displays were quietly dismantled by devastated supporters.
Several videos capturing the heartbreak of Brazil fans went viral on social media.
One of the most touching clips showed a little boy rolling on his bed inconsolably after the defeat, while his mother tried her best to comfort him.
Another widely shared Facebook video from Kozhikode showed hundreds of yellow jersey-clad fans cheering every Brazilian attack during a public screening. The atmosphere of celebration suddenly gave way to stunned silence as Norway completed one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Equally emotional were visuals of fans removing giant flexboards and banners of Brazil from roadsides across Kerala after the team’s exit.
For many supporters, the defeat was not merely the end of another World Cup campaign but the continuation of a long wait that began after Brazil’s 2002 triumph.
“Five-time champions Brazil now seem to be living only on history. Since lifting the World Cup in 2002, all we have had is hope. The dream ended in the Round of 16 this time too,” a fan wrote in his Malayalam Facebook post.
He said Brazil continued to produce world-class players after 2002 but repeatedly failed to click as a team in decisive World Cup moments.
“Now Neymar too has stepped away from the national team. May Brazil return stronger in the next World Cup,” he added.
Another fan summed up the emotions of countless supporters.
“We celebrate every Brazil victory and carry every defeat with the same pain. True fans don’t abandon the team after the World Cup ends. We will wait again for the next World Cup and for a new generation of Brazil. That yellow jersey will always remain our emotion,” the Facebook post read.
Adding to the heartbreak was Neymar’s announcement that he was bringing the curtain down on his Brazil career following the defeat.
“I tried. It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over,” Neymar said after Brazil’s elimination.
The announcement left many fans emotional.
“Thank you, King, for the memories. No one can ever replace you,” one admirer wrote, while another lamented, “He never deserved a farewell like this.”
Senior CPI(M) leader and noted Brazil supporter V Sivankutty also hailed the Brazilian soccer legend in a heartfelt Facebook post.
“Thank you, Neymar, for making football this beautiful,” he wrote.
Not everyone, however, shared the grief.
Veteran CPI(M) leader and former minister M M Mani, a passionate Argentina supporter, took a light-hearted dig at Brazil fans.
“From today, Brazil fans are all ‘Brans’ (Brazil + France)… 2022 repeats,” he wrote sarcastically on Facebook.
Norway booked a historic place in the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with the memorable 2-1 victory over Brazil, ending the campaign of one of football’s most decorated nations. (PTI)
